Twitter starts testing new CoTweets feature

Twitter has started testing a new CoTweets feature this week with users of the social network. The CoTweets feature allows two accounts to co-author a tweet and both be tagged in a single tweet. Twitter has confirmed to The Verge that this new feature is now live for some users for a limited amount of time after the company started experimenting with the idea earlier this year.

“We’re continuing to explore new ways for people to collaborate on Twitter,” explains Twitter spokesperson Joseph J. Nuñez in a statement to The Verge. “We’re testing CoTweets for a limited time to learn how people and brands may use this feature to grow and reach new audiences, and strengthen their collaborations with other accounts.”

In a tweet from the Twitter Create account, the company confirmed the feature is available for select accounts in the US, Canada, and Korea. This FAQ has more information on how it works and what it’s capable of.

What’s a CoTweet?

A CoTweet is a co-authored Tweet that’s posted simultaneously to both authors’ profiles and their followers’ timelines. You’ll recognize a CoTweet when you see two authors’ profile pictures and usernames in the header. CoTweets help authors share the spotlight, unlock opportunities for engaging new audiences, and enhance their established partnerships.

How do CoTweets work?

When two authors decide to CoTweet, the first step is to finalize the content they’d like to share. We recommend using Direct Messages to collaborate.

Once the messaging is ready, one author creates the CoTweet and initiates an invite to the co-author. When the co-author accepts the CoTweet invitation, the CoTweet immediately posts to each author’s profile and both of their followers’ timelines.

How do you draft a CoTweet?

Open the Tweet composer. Add the co-authored messaging and tap the CoTweet icon. Select a co-author from your follower list and tap Send invite.

Several Twitter users have been testing the CoTweets feature today, and the experience allows a main tweet author to invite someone else to be tagged in the tweet and discuss the contents over DM. The second account needs to approve the co-authored tweet, and the resulting tweet shows it’s co-authored by two people, but replies appear to only be directed toward the main author of the tweet. There are some examples below, but you may need to visit the tweets directly, as Twitter’s embed feature hasn’t been updated to support CoTweets yet.

Instagram has offered a similar co-author feature on its service since last year, and it’s reasonable to assume that influencers and brands will be quick to use a Twitter feature like this one. I can’t wait to see how Wendy’s, the burger joint that’s always going viral, uses CoTweets to roast its next Twitter victim.

Source: theverge.com