Home Twitter Makes It Easy To Watch Videos In Tweets

Twitter Makes It Easy To Watch Videos In Tweets

Twitter is rolling out a new feature that makes it easier to view videos shared on the service, the New York Times reports. Like photos, in-line videos will begin to automatically preview in the timeline, and you can view them in fullscreen by clicking on the play button overlaid on the video.

Short videos shared using Twitter’s Vine service already had these features. Significantly, these new videos appear to be designed to run directly on Twitter, hosted on the social network. Twitter had previously only hosted users’ photos on its site, relying on third-party services like YouTube or Vimeo for videos.

The National Basketball Association was one of the first to use the tool. During Wednesday’s evening games, the NBA posted videos taken directly from the live games and encouraged those who clicked on the video to “watch live now.” A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the company is starting this test with Twitter Amplify partners, including the NBA, and all users can see the new video previews on mobile apps and twitter.com.

The new feature could appeal to advertisers and TV partners Twitter has worked to bolster relationships with. The company is putting an increased focus on visual content, including adding inline image previews last fall. The goal appears to be to capitalize on the “second screen” experience, where people use Twitter on smartphones or tablets while watching television shows.

Update:An earlier version of this story indicated that the links to original videos still appeared in the code of Twitter’s website, thus were viewed in a wrapper designed to keep the user on Twitter rather than NBA.com, however the company told The New York Times it was hosted on-site. We’ve reached out to Twitter for clarification.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.