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Twitter tests new 'Twttr' app that could change how people use the site

The new app is Twitter's latest attempt to tackle online abuse and trolls

Anthony Cuthbertson
Wednesday 13 March 2019 12:29 GMT
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The new Twttr app aims to explore 'new ways to make the conversations you care about easier to read, understand, and join'
The new Twttr app aims to explore 'new ways to make the conversations you care about easier to read, understand, and join'

Twitter is rolling out a new app called Twttr, which aims to transform the application into an experimental playground for testing new features.

Twittr, which borrows the app's original name, was first unveiled at the CES 2019 conference in January but is now available for the first group of testers.

It will initially be used to find ways to better read, understand and join conversations but could ultimately transform the entire way Twitter looks and works.

"Twitter is exploring new ways to make the conversations you care about easier to read, understand, and join," Twitter wrote in a blog post.

The tech firm invited users to take part in tests of the prototype program, allowing them to see an early version of the new app.

Only a few thousand English and Japanese speakers will be invited to use Twttr to begin with, though they will be able to openly discuss their experience.

If new features prove successful they will likely be added to the main Twitter app.

Twitter has previously faced criticism about conversations on its platform being difficult to follow, while also allowing trolling and abuse to flourish.

Earlier this month the firm confirmed a new Hide Tweet feature that allows users to hide replies to their tweets from other users.

"We think this can balance the product experience between the original tweeter and the audience," Twitter's senior product manager Yasmeen Haq wrote on Twitter.

"People who start interesting conversations on Twitter are really important to us, and we want to empower them to make the conversations they start as healthy as possible by giving them some control."

The feature is designed to allow people to rid their feed of abuse, though it could have the unintended consequence of stifling legitimate reaction to controversial tweets.

"Free speech be damned, it'll be great for seeing the world thru rose coloured glasses," one Twitter user tweeted.

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