Twitter's recent shaky position on the financial front due to uncertainties in its search for buyers has not prevented its developers from toiling hard. The popular micro-blogging site seems poised to roll out a huge update that could include the introduction of new elements.
One of the most notable changes could involve the replacement of Twitter Moments with a tab called Explore. It purportedly aims to improve content discovery. It sounds a bit simple but the implication for the platform itself could be profound.
The Explore tab will be able to aggregate trending topics and will also include other information such as Twitter users to follow. Based on these variables, Twitter could be in a better position to not only provide engaging and relevant content but also ensure engagement opportunities for its long-time users.
Twitter has already confirmed that it is testing the Explore feature on both iOS and Android platforms. This could mean that it is closer to public release.
"As part of our continued efforts to make it easier to find what's happening on Twitter, we're testing a new tab for content discovery," the company told Mashable.
The move to replace Moments can be phrased as part of the recent Twitter move to implement some semblance of organization to the flow of data that populate a user's account. This is particularly important to new users who could be turned off by the barrage of data that could often overwhelm the uninitiated.
Some users have begun seeing the Explore tab in their accounts as early as Wednesday, Oct. 12. There is no word yet, however, whether it will stay as a permanent feature. One should note that Twitter is known for constantly tweaking its platform. For instance, there was the introduction of the Discover tab, which also served as a section for suggested accounts to follow and popular tweets. It was, however, pulled out after Moments surfaced and some of its features were carried over to Search instead.
To better understand the new Explore tab, one should remember that Twitter is facing stagnant growth and is struggling to generate revenue from its existing user base.
With the new tab, Twitter could at least ensure that new users are immediately entangled into the platform. It also allows current accounts to gain more followers within what one could call as a strategy to make the platform more social. Finally, a new tab that contains more interesting content means that mobile users will interact with the app more and get exposed to more promoted content in the process.
