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Twitter is rolling out a new feature designed to increase the amount\u00a0of\u00a0visual content in\u00a0users\u2019 timelines and encourage more tweets and replies: it\u2019s\u00a0prompting users who have just updated\u00a0their profile picture to post a hashtagged tweet about the change. The tweet will be appended with #NewProfilePic, which can then be seen by all the users\u2019\u00a0Twitter followers.<\/p>\n
TechCrunch noticed that\u00a0tweets<\/a> about #NewProfilePic first appeared\u00a0back in December, with some referencing the fact that this appears to be a new Twitter feature.<\/p>\n A Twitter spokesperson has confirmed the rollout and timeframe, saying that users will be prompted to tweet with the autofilled hashtag, but the tweets are not sent out automatically. The tweet can also be edited to say whatever the user wants.<\/p>\n The addition first launched on Android, where it\u2019s now available to all users. A small percentage of iOS users can also use the feature, but the full rollout on that platform is still weeks out, Twitter tells us.<\/p>\n Though a minor change to the Twitter experience, it\u2019s one that can be used to increase user engagement.<\/p>\n Facebook, as a point of comparison, makes profile picture updates public. These almost always get\u00a0likes and comments, though other photo uploads don\u2019t necessarily receive the same attention. Plus,\u00a0over the past couple of years, Facebook has expanded upon profile picture updates with a variety of features, allowing users to do things like\u00a0set temporary profile pictures<\/a>, use videos instead of static images<\/a>, add decorative frames<\/a>, and\u00a0use third-party apps<\/a>\u00a0(as well as its\u00a0own MSQRD app) to create profile videos.<\/p>\n Twitter, by comparison, is starting off much smaller. It\u2019s not forcing users to tweet, only suggesting they do. And profile pictures are still just regular, uploaded photos.<\/p>\n That being said, for a particular younger Twitter demographic, swapping out pictures is a form of self-expression. By noting this activity in a tweet, Twitter may be subtly encouraging them to do it more.<\/p>\n #NewProfilePic<\/a> Whoa, neat new feature\u2026 I’ll use it so much you’ll get sick of it\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/oufLbiDprP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ser Stephen (@SerStephen) December 23, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n However, not all users are as enthusiastic. Some\u00a0seem to be expressing more confusion or dismissal, even referring to the feature as weird<\/a> and stupid<\/a> at times.<\/p>\n But Twitter tests a lot of minor user interface changes, not all of which go live. The fact that this one has made the cut indicates the feature is seeing enough usage that the company believes it will have a measurable impact on engagement.<\/p>\n #NewProfilePic<\/a><\/p>\n What even is this new feature?? pic.twitter.com\/EwXrAZJLSf<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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