Twitter has reportedly start asking users who take screenshots of tweets to share a link to the tweet instead. The microblogging service appears to be detecting screenshots taken on the app, prompting users to copy a link to the tweet, or use the share menu to send the tweet to other users.
The feature is said to be the latest effort by the firm to improve engagement on the platform, ahead of a takeover by Elon Musk that is expect to take place later this month.
One of the Security researcher and reverse enginnering expert share a screenshot of the Twitter app on iOS, displaying a prompt with the text “Share Tweet instead?” and two buttons: Copy link and Share Tweet.
Twitter is trying to persuade me to Share Tweet or Copy Link instead of taking a screenshot of the Tweet pic.twitter.com/vwFYNsf003
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) October 6, 2022
Twitter confirm that the new feature prompting users to share the tweet or copy a link to the tweet, is part of a limited test in iOS.
Security researcher says that the feature is part of the company’s attempts to increase engagement on the platform.
It is worth noting that finding a tweet spot on a screenshot requires visitng the Twitter app or website and searching for a username or the tweet.
Twitter was also spot working on a tooltip that prompts users under a tweet, asking them to “Share this tweet with anyone, even if they aren’t on Twitter”.
The nudge is said to appear under the buttons to reply, retweet, like and share under a tweet.
The company already allows users to share tweets directly to their Instagram stories, but people who view the story cannot tap on the share tweet to access it on the Twitter app.
In July 2022, the researcher spot a feature in testing, which allow users who do not have an account to “Try Twitter” to follow and read tweets on the mobile app.
Twitter is testing “Try Twitter”, letting people follow and read Tweets in the mobile app without having an account
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) July 28, 2022
This test drive is public and requires personalization. Most of other actions like retweeting, liking, bookmarking, tweeting still require signing up / logging in pic.twitter.com/Sj0axwyXGo
Users who try the app and want to tweet, retweet, like, bookmark will still be require to sign up for the service, or log in.
