Rumors suggest that Twitter is developing a feature akin to Snapchat's location-based Snap collections that can be found within the app's Discover tab.
Suppose the rumors prove accurate, it might mean Twitter is making an effort to turn the microblogging platform into a more dynamic venue that's inclusive of other types of content rather than just text. It's worth noting that images, videos, and GIFs are already typical of what one finds on Twitter these days, but there's never been a streamlined way of gathering them all in one neat hub, much like how Snapchat does.
Twitter To Launch A Feature Like Snapchat's Discover Tab
As CNBC reports, citing three sources, the feature will make use of location-based photos and videos with Twitter Moments and notable events. A prime opportunity for advertisers, companies may use it to sponsor events then implement ad placements in between real-time photo and video tweets.
Snapchat has plenty of reasons to worry. Its aforementioned Discover tab is popular with advertisers and organizations, and suppose Twitter's implementation works just as well or better, some of its captured advertisers may flock to Twitter instead. One source even thinks that if Twitter manages to pull it off, it could steal some of Snapchat's advertising pool.
CNBC says it remains unclear when this feature will launch, and it's similarly unclear whether it'll actually push through or be canceled entirely. It's not uncommon for companies to develop certain features then trash them or send them back to the drawing board. The report states that it's still early in the development process, though the sources have seen demonstrations of the feature.
Bringing In Younger Consumers
It makes a lot of sense for Twitter to launch a feature such as the one described above. Since users tweet in real-time, a camera-first Snapchat Discover-ish section would prove a natural fit for the platform. Plus, there would most likely be demand from advertisers, since Twitter is often the place where people go to when there's an important cultural event happening in the world. CNBC's sources called the feature a "necessary" move and a "natural progression" of Twitter's offerings so as to rake in younger audiences who share events with friends.
Meanwhile, for Snapchat, this serves as another potential blow. Facebook is already hurting the company by copying many of its features and implementing it into apps it owns such as Instagram and WhatsApp, causing Snapchat to lose audience — save for the younger ones. Now, Twitter is charting a similar route.
