Twitter is taking its advertising efforts a step further by placing ads in user profiles, according to a new report.
It’s only in the testing phase at present, but Twitter is playing around with putting targeted ads directly into its users’ profiles.
Recode reports that when certain logged-in users visit another user’s Twitter page, they’ll find an advert nestled in amongst the usual tweets. Because those ads will be targeted, the nature of them will vary according to your own tastes and habits.
A Twitter spokesperson has apparently confirmed that the company is indeed testing this ad placement method. “We’re experimenting with this feature, as we do with all our ad features, in order to create great experiences for our users, advertisers and partners,” the statement read.
It seems as if these targeted ads are only appearing for users who are logged in – you can’t target the anonymous, after all.
Related: Twitter wants to cram even more app ads into your feed
On the other end of the scale, those with verified Twitter profiles – so celebrities, essentially – won’t see these targeted ads appearing in their profiles for now. There’s been no reason provided for this omission, but the report points out that there may be sponsorship and branding clashes with certain celebrities – particularly with sports stars.
So there you go. If you want to avoid your Twitter profile filling up with ads, you’d best get famous pretty sharpish.
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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.
