Twitter is bringing its Direct Messages feature closer to parity with Facebook’s Messenger service by adding read receipts, live typing indicators and URL previews – meaning a “more dynamic” experience.
Twitter announced the changes in – what else – a tweet today. It also posted a video showing off how the new features will look in the microblogging site’s iPhone app in particular – though we wouldn’t doubt that Twitter is bringing these changes to its website and Android app as well.
New! Direct Messages are more dynamic than ever with read receipts, typing indicators, and web link previews. pic.twitter.com/VEU92V5Gqj
— Twitter (@Twitter) September 8, 2016
Anyone who is experienced with Facebook Messenger should instantly feel at home using the revamped Direct Messages service, which is presumably being rolled out over the next few days. Nonetheless, Facebook Messenger remains noticeably more sophisticated – at least for now.
Furthermore, as many Twitter users tend to have much larger and more anonymous followings than they would on that, ahem, other social media site, it could end up easier for them to get into in-depth conversations with people who they don’t genuinely know outside of Twitter.
Should the improved Direct Messages feature really take off in popularity, however, it doesn’t seem out of the question that Twitter could break it out into a separate app, much like Facebook did – albeit to more than a little public outcry – with Messenger two years ago.