Twitter knows when you’re sharing screenshot tweets elsewhere, and it would be better if you gave it some credit instead.
Some Twitter users are starting to see a new popup asking them to share a link to tweets instead of a screenshot. App researcher Jane Manchun Wong noticed the new popup that appears immediately after a user takes a screenshot of a message; the prompt reads “Share Tweet instead?” Users will see a few different versions, such as the ‘Copy Link’ and ‘Share Tweet’ buttons. Some employees of The edge got the “Copy Link” popup, which grabs a link to the screenshot tweet.
Twitter didn’t immediately respond to a request for more information about the popup, but it’s likely a minor update the company is testing to try and get people to use Twitter more. Screenshots of tweets end up on the platform, but they also spread to all corners of the internet that are not Twitter, such as Instagram stories and posts, TikTok videos or group chats and other private messages. Images of tweets taking numbers off Twitter is engagement that the platform is losing. And visiting Twitter after seeing a screenshot of a tweet elsewhere involves more steps than simply clicking a direct link.
The prompt to share a tweet instead of a screenshot is just one of the ways Twitter has tried to grow users. In August, the company announced a test that would allow potential new users to test Twitter without creating an account. In September, Wonga also noticed that Twitter experimented with a prompt to remind users that they can share tweets with anyone, including those without an account.
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.