Twitter has launched a new swipeable feed for iOS to improve the site’s user interface. Users can now easily switch between an algorithm-based feed and a display of tweets by users they follow or observe within the app.
Quick Facts
- Twitter released a similar feature in March 2022 offering users the choice to pin a swipeable feed of ‘Newest tweets’ by tapping on the star icon within the app’s prime proper
- The new update is almost identical but the feeds will be titled ‘For You’ and ‘Following’ instead of ‘Dwelling and ‘Newest Tweets’.
- Users’ feeds will feature two new tabs creating an experience similar to TikTok’s For You Page
While a user’s feed is characterized by the accounts they follow, Twitter’s algorithm reveals important tweets from individuals not followed by the user. Unlike Instagram which is now reinstating the Compose button in the center by shifting the Reels option to the right, Twitter will flood the users’ feed with recommendations and trending topics.
After a tough year, the social media app is undergoing major transformations, some of which have only added to their misery. When the app is opened, the For You tab will be visible, similar to the format observed in TikTok.
It is known if users will be happy with the change and how it will affect user experience on the app. According to social media analyst Matt Navarra, the app is “a really shit version of TikTok,” written on a screenshot of the update he posted.
CEO Elon Musk tweeted about the new feature saying it is “part of a much larger UI overhaul”. As of now, the update will be launched on iOS and the old feed would be accessible to users on Android and Web.
How does Twitter’s new “For You” update work?
Twitter will no longer retain its usual flow between the algorithmically-driven timeline and the reverse chronological one. The new update will render the algorithmic feed as the default display.
The platform is removing its Star button at the top right which allows the switch between the two feeds. It will be replaced by two tabs – one that says “For You” and the other “Following.”
When the app is opened, the “For You” tab will appear on the feed. The new feature shares its title with TikTok’s algorithm-based feed and can be compared to its discarded “Home” option.
It shows tweets from people you follow, mixed with recommended ones or tweets you may like. The Following feed used to be called “Latest Tweets” in the past.
What is the purpose of Twitter’s new “For You” update?
The new update is expected to provide an easier switch between both feeds (by taking a single swipe instead of multiple taps), but it could have disadvantages too.
If you set the app to give you the “Latest Tweets,” the feed is generally retained. Now, you can close the app and reopen it only to find the For You feed featured by default.
It comes as a surprise to many users who prefer the reverse-chronological feed and based on previous records of attempts to remove it or make it less accessible, many users will be outraged by the change.
Although it creates a smoother flow from the algorithmic timeline, it also devalues the feature “Latest Tweets” which has now been redressed into “Following.”
The change is a consequence of a promise made by CEO Elon Musk on December 20, 2022. He shared that the “Main timeline should allow for an easy sideways swipe between top, latest, trending, and topics that you follow.”
He revealed that the platform will be implementing these changes shortly. The current interface does not have an option of swiping to trending and followed topics, but the former can be accessed with a few taps from the Search menu.
