Twitter has introduced emoji tap backs to direct messages. Tap backs allow users to respond to incoming or outgoing messages with one of six popular emoji, including the red heart, thumbs up, and thumbs down.
Dubbed “emoji reactions”, the feature directly mimics Apple’s infamous iMessage.
Twitter made an official announcement on its Twitter Support page along with additional details on how the new feature can be accessed.
It further illustrated that users can say more with emojis. Users can add a reaction by clicking the hearts Emoji and plus icon. The icon appears when you hover the message on the web or by double-tapping the message on mobile. From there select the emoji you want from the popup.
“It’s quick and easy to add an emoji reaction to a Direct Message – both text and media attachments. To add a reaction, hover over the message and click the reaction button (heart and plus icon), or double-tap on the message and pick an emoji from the pop-up. You can also undo a reaction at any time from the message for all participants. Click or tap on a reaction in a conversation to view who reacted to the message. All conversation participants receive a notification when a new reaction is added to a message.”
However, People still on the older version of the Twitter for iOS or Android app that doesn’t support message reactions will see reactions displayed as text-based messages.
Other additions on the upgrade include the ability to mute direct messages. You can mute notifications for Direct Messages for 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week, or Forever depending on your preference.
Additionally, you can report a direct conversation or message, share a tweet via direct message. You can as well enable the settings button to receive messages from anyone including those not on your follower’s list.
While Tapbacks have become a common part of messaging apps. Especially WhatsApp and Facebook. Users use them to make their conversations lively instead of the business kind of threads.
However, some users find them controversial. According to them, they make texting confusing as there isn’t a universally accepted definition for what a heart or fire emoji is supposed to mean.
Others argue that this would make sliding into someone’s DMs a little more lively.
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Social Media Today blog notes that, given the availability of similar tools on other messaging platforms, it makes sense for Twitter to move in-step. Tapping into habitual messaging behaviour will significantly facilitate more engagement on the platform.
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