Twitter is testing a new feature that delivers algorithmically-chosen timelines to users when breaking news events take place. The timelines include Tweets on breaking news, both from regular users and news organisations.
You didn’t think Twitter was going to let Facebook into breaking news that easily did you? Nope. News has always been Twitter’s department, as it always breaks sooner on the platform. And despite the clutter, it tends to be a lot more accurate most of the time. So, since Facebook is having some trouble figuring out what content people want to see on its platform – and is testing breaking news labels for big publishers to increase the quality of news delivered to its users – Twitter is now bringing more algorithmically chosen news right to the top of its own users’ timelines.
First reported by BuzzFeed this week, Twitter tested its new news timelines feature with two news timelines: One involved the coverage of Stephen Hawkings’ death. The other, the special election in Pennsylvania.
According to BuzzFeed, the timelines include Tweets from news organisations and regular Twitter users, and will now appear at the top of Twitter users’ usual timeline when breaking news events take place.
It may have done quite well this time – with the latest two breaking news events – but can its algorithm actually keep it up without bending under pressure from wrong signals? This remains to be seen. In any case, what we’ve noticed time and time again, is that algorithms are really terrible at choosing good sources of news stories.
You might also like
More from Twitter
Twitter Fleets Get A Stickers Upgrade
Twitter Fleets Stickers make Fleets a little more fun on Android and iOS, like Instagram and Facebook Stories.
Emoji Reactions And Downvotes Could Be Coming To Twitter Soon
Twitter is reportedly working on the rollout of Emoji reactions and a new downvote button, and no, still not an …
Twitter Tests Way To View YouTube Videos Directly In Timeline
Twitter has begun testing a new way to let you watch YouTube videos directly in the timeline, without having to …
Twitter Now Lets You Secure Your Account With Multiple 2FA Security Keys
Twitter has added support for multiple security keys on its app, and will soon letting you link more than one …
Twitter Spaces Lands On Android, Beating Clubhouse
Twitter is bringing its audio conversation feature Twitter Spaces to Android, while Clubhouse remains iOS only for the moment.
Twitter Adds Stickers And Twemojis To Fleets In Japan
Following the rollout of Fleets in November, Twitter is now expanding functionality with stickers and Twemojis in Japan.
Twitter Super Follow Will Ask You To Pay To Follow Some Users
Twitter announced its first-ever paid product, called "Super Follow" which will let some creators ask users to pay to access …
Twitter CFO: Trump Ban Is Permanent
According to Twitter's CFO, Trump will never be allowed back on its platform - even if he became president again.