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As everyone already knows through the overwhelming amount of mentions of Threads on the internet, Twitter is facing heavy competition from Meta’s so-called ‘Twitter Killer’. However, Musk’s Twitter is not keeping really quiet either. It is taking strides to enhance its user experience by introducing new voice and video capabilities within its Direct Message (DM) interface. This upcoming development aims to provide increased utility and improved connectivity with friends, while still trying to keep a few people on the platform.
How Will It Look?
In a preview shared by Twitter designer Andrea Conway, the forthcoming DM interface showcases a call icon conveniently located at the top right corner of the DM feed. By tapping this icon, users will have easy access to voice and video calls, fostering seamless communication on the platform.
This move by Twitter aligns with its broader vision of transforming into an all-encompassing “everything app,” as advocated by Elon Musk. By incorporating these interactive elements directly into the app, Twitter intends to expand its utility and redefine the possibilities of engaging with others on the platform.
Is It Enough?
However, Twitter may face challenges in altering entrenched user behaviors. With numerous messaging apps already offering voice and video calling capabilities, it is difficult to envision a mass migration of users from established platforms like WhatsApp to Twitter for these purposes. WhatsApp currently boasts eight times the user base of Twitter, making it a formidable competitor in this space.
Nevertheless, Twitter hopes that by integrating voice and video calls seamlessly within the app and facilitating easy access, it can foster fresh forms of engagement and position itself as a valuable tool for maintaining social connections. This strategic move also supports the ongoing trend of reshaping how users interact within the Twitter ecosystem.
Simultaneously, Twitter is exploring restrictions on who can send DMs, possibly limiting certain features to paying subscribers of Twitter Blue. If implemented, this change could potentially diminish the value of voice and video call options, especially considering the limited adoption of Twitter Blue, with less than 0.3% of Twitter users currently subscribed to the program.
Despite these considerations, there may be a bigger plan in motion to bolster DM usage, presenting a more valuable and viable proposition for users.
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