Do we even want a Twitter version of TikTok and Instagram Reels?

Twitter is rolling out a new video section in its Explore tab, which has a similar vibe to what TikTok and Instagram’s Explore page is like. The platform is also introducing a video feature that makes it easier for users to watch vertical videos.

“Videos are a huge part of the public conversation, and they’re one of the most engaging ways people can express themselves online… To help make it easier to find and watch what’s happening, we’re rolling out two new updates to how you experience videos on Twitter starting today,” wrote Twitter in their blog.

We can already watch videos on Twitter pretty easily, albeit these videos have to be 2 minutes and 20 seconds long, maximum. That also includes vertical videos as well. However, Twitter says that its new update means that its media viewer expands videos to full screen “with a single click, allowing you to easily access the full, immersive viewing experience”.

Once you’re watching a video on Twitter with that mode, you can just scroll up to start browsing more engaging video content—just like how you would for TikTok or Instagram Reels. If you want to exit the viewer and go back to the original Tweet, you can click the back arrow in the top left corner.

Additionally, Twitter’s Explore tab will look a bit different. Twitter users will find more videos alongside Tweets and Trends of interest—a lot like Instagram’s Explore page. To find the feature, press on the magnifying glass icon on Twitter’s app (that’s the Explore tab).

It looks like Twitter is aiming to compete against TikTok, just like what Instagram is trying to do as well. And it’s valid, as TikTok was reportedly the number one most downloaded app of 2021, with 656 million downloads. Behind the app is Instagram with 545 million. Introducing something like TikTok to their platform could make or break it.

Twitter is rolling out the new media player over the next few days, and the videos on the Explore tab are already “currently available to people in select countries” who are using iOS or Android. Both updates are coming to people using the app in English first.

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