Twitter is experimenting with a Trending News tab within its mobile apps as it searches for ways to keep people using the service for longer.
A number of Twitter app users for iOS and Android have spotted the new feature sitting in the centre of the Home, Notifications, Messages and Profile tabs.
The section (via Buzzfeed) shows a host of contemporary stories from reputable news sources like the New York Times and USA Today, allowing users to click to view the full article.
A Twitter spokesperson confirmed: “We’re experimenting with a news experience on iOS and Android as we continue to explore new ways to surface the best content to users.”
If the feature could be customised to focus on the users specific areas of interest – sports, current affairs, music, etc. – then it would almost certainly become a valuable part of the service.
News curation is a hot topic at the moment with Apple promising a new app within iOS 9 to bring together content from the reader’s favourite sources.
Facebook’s Instant Articles are also seeing content providers post articles directly to the social network, rather than force readers to leave the site via a hyperlink.
Twitter is also working on a plan to own live events with its yet to be released Project Lightning platform. The trending events feature would bring users a collection of curated, media rich content to swipe through.
Could these projects be central to Twitter’s turnaround? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.