Twitter is testing a new feature that could integrate podcasts on its app.
A screenshot posted by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi showing a dedicated menu item for podcasts in Twitter’s mobile apps, suggests that Twitter is testing a new feature that would bring podcasts to the platform.
This suggests that Twitter is preparing to take a big step into podcast discovery. This will enable podcasters to create a direct link to their podcasts in their app. Podcast discovery app Breaker was acquired by Twitter last year, which at the time seemed aimed at improving the discovery of Spaces. It was noted that the Breaker team would be incorporated into the Spaces development group.
It’s possible that Twitter may have bigger plans in mind for a more specific integration of Breaker’s podcast listening capacity.
With the popularity of Clubhouse waning after its initial surge last year, it’s difficult to say if social audio will be an enduring trend for Twitter. Maybe, by enabling more discovery, Twitter will be able to tap into those same trends and make Spaces a more significant consideration to more users.
The addition of this new feature will likely tie into Twitter’s growing trend of promoting content creators. This will provide yet another way for creators to build an audience around their content in the app.
At the moment, podcasts are mainly a passive experience with listeners tuning in then moving on. However, part of the concept of Breaker was to also add in social elements, like episode comments and Likes. Being able to turn recordings into podcasts and allowing people to subscribe to future episodes would not only allow users to discover new podcasts on the app, but it would also be a boost to content creators and their followers. Of course, Twitter will benefit from keeping users on the app.
Podcast listenership has increased a great deal in recent years so this could be a great feature if Twitter can get it right. Bear in mind it will be competing with industry giants like Apple and Spotify. As we’ve seen with the increase of the use of Spaces and the decline of Clubhouse, Twitter might just be able to hold its own.
Twitter has not confirmed plans for a podcast feature so this is all speculation at this point.
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