Fulfilling Elon Musk's recent promises for speedy video updates on Twitter, two significant enhancements are now rolling out to users.
The first is the much-anticipated picture-in-picture (PiP) playback window, now active on all platforms. This feature allows users to continue viewing a video as they scroll through the app, making multitasking within the app simpler. This may boost Twitter's standing as a consolidated source of entertainment and information, moving away from its traditional role as a supplementary tool.
Despite many users already turning to Twitter as a primary attention source, the platform has struggled to capitalize on 'second-screening,' a prevalent trend among users. Twitter has attempted various ways to merge video content and tweets, aiming to become a more universal platform. However, despite the theoretical appeal of viewing tweets and streaming content on one screen, user behaviors have leaned towards traditional discovery and consumption patterns.
PiP could bridge this gap, making Twitter a more valuable platform. Considering the rise of trends like multi-layered 'sludge' clips on TikTok, users may now be more open to multiple feeds on a single screen.
As Twitter focuses more on video content under incoming CEO Linda Yaccarino, this could mark a new direction for the platform. The launch of Tucker Carlson's exclusive Twitter show is an early example of this push.
In addition, Twitter is exploring a native video download option. A frequently requested feature, this could add significant value to Twitter's content presentation and production pipeline, particularly with a heightened focus on video content.
These updates, coupled with previous enhancements such as variable playback speed controls and 1080p uploads, signify Twitter's significant investments in video services, marking a pivotal part of Musk's Twitter 2.0 push.
