Twitter is testing a new tool, Communities, which lets users publicly tweet in a group about specific topics.
Twitter on Wednesday launched a global test of a tool it
calls Communities, a feature similar to Facebook Groups, that gives users a way
to tweet to people with similar interests.
In a blog post, Twitter said certain users can create
Communities and more will be added in the coming months. The company did not
disclose the number of users in the test, but any user can participate in a
group if invited.
Communities are publicly visible, though at this stage
people need to be invited to join by a moderator or another member.
The social media company has in recent months rolled out a
bevy of new features including subscription-based “superfollows” and live audio
chat rooms, aiming to turn around years of business stagnation.
Facebook Groups
Larger social media rival Facebook has pushed its Groups,
which can be private or public, as a strategic priority since 2017. But
Facebook Groups have also been used to spread political and health
misinformation and organize extremist activity, causing the company to announce
changes to the types of Groups it recommends to users.
Twitter said it would adapt its rules and enforcement
actions to keep people safe in Communities, including developing ways to
proactively identify groups that could be problematic.
“Some of the initial Communities we’re testing surround
popular conversations on Twitter,” said David Regan, staff product manager at
Twitter, in the blog post. He said these included “dogs, weather, sneakers,
skincare and astrology, with many more to come.”
Users will act as Community moderators, setting and
enforcing standards for their groups. During the test, the company is approving
moderators and will work closely with them.
A Twitter spokesperson said the company had done research
and consulted experts over the past year “to better understandh ow Communities
may be used and abused.”