Twitter launches Moments news service
October 7, 2015
Twitter has launched a new live news service branded ‘Moments’.
Previously known as Project Lightning, Moments brings together content – including tweets, photos, videos, Vines and Periscope broadcasts – around specific events so users can follow them as they happen. These could be scheduled events like The Oscars or the Super Bowl, and could also focus on breaking news and ongoing events, like natural disasters.
Most Moments will be curated by a team of editors who runs Twitter’s global media operations.
However, some will be contributed by partners like Bleacher Report, Buzzfeed, Entertainment Weekly, Fox News, Getty Images, Mashable, MLB, NASA, New York Times, Vogue and the Washington Post.
Users in the US can access the service immediately by tapping on a new lightning bolt tab in the Twitter app. This opens up a list of trending ‘Moments’ that will be updated throughout the day. For stories that update frequently – like live sporting events – users will have the option to “follow the Moment”, which blends the Tweets directly into their timeline. When that story ends, so do the Tweets.
“We know finding these only-on-Twitter moments can be a challenge, especially if you haven’t followed certain accounts. But it doesn’t have to be,” said Madhu Muthukumar, product manager for Moments in a blog post. “Moments helps you find the best of Twitter as easily as tapping an icon – regardless of who you follow. Just visit the new tab called Moments, where you will discover stories unfolding on Twitter.”
The service is initially only available in the US but Twitter said it plans to roll out Moments in more countries “in the coming weeks and months”.