Twitter – a place where you can go to check out the latest memes, keep updated with breaking news stories and engage in conversations and debates when you’re feeling, well… argumentative.
Despite the love we share for Twitter and its powerful community experience, like most social media platforms, it has negatives. With freedom of speech and the right to use anonymity, the platform continuously acts as a breeding ground for abuse and conversations some may find distressing.
The one thing we know for sure is that Twitter is constantly thinking of new ways to promote healthier conversation and attempt to limit misuse of the platform. Introducing their latest trial:
“Ever want to know the vibe of a conversation before you join in? We’re testing prompts on Android and iOS that give you a heads up if the convo you’re about to enter could get heated or intense.” – @TwitterSupport
The trial is set to be conducted with small groups of ‘tweeters’ with the aim of protecting users from harmful and damaging content.
We know what you might be thinking… isn’t Twitter all about controversy and heated debates?
Let’s face it, we all love watching an ‘argument’ unfold into hundreds of different threads, but when it comes to abuse, there’s no excuse.
Despite the good intentions we see behind the potential feature, we certainly have a few questions…
Who (or what) will be monitoring the intense conversations? Is there a scale to measure the intensity of a conversation? What if one user doesn’t think a conversation is intense, but another does?
Lots to consider, right?
With Twitter not yet specifying how it will determine which conversations or posts ‘qualify’ as intense or heated, or how it will evaluate the success of the trial, we’re excited to see how this ‘safety mode’ will play out for Twitter in its ongoing mission to protect its users.
