Twitter has officially rolled out a brand new user profile redesign from today, as it looks to help users show who they really are.
I did check it out, looks real nice. Almost a bit like Mr. Zuckerberg’s Facebook, if you ask me.
This new update includes a whiter design and bigger buttons. Now you will be able to pin one of your tweets to the top of your profile page. That was totally required 😀
However this pinned tweet is pushed down the pecking order with every fresh tweet you send. So it’s not a permanent ornament on your profile, unless you repeatedly re-pin it or, well, never send any fresh tweets.
Twitter’s Web profile will now also display a larger profile photo and customizable header, while it will also surface your best tweets – those that have received the most engagement will appear slightly larger, making it easier to find.
The photos/video section takes on a gallery-like two-column display of all the photos and videos you’ve shared on the social network, a move away from the single-column format. Certainly, it looks a lot more engaging.
The new profiles have already been tested among a small group of users. You’ll be getting yours over the coming weeks, however if you’re completely new to Twitter – as in, you sign-up today – you’ll kick off with the new profile from the get go.
One of Twitter’s key growing pains in recent years has been how to appeal to more users. Many people have difficulty circumventing that initial hurdle when signing-up – knowing what they’re supposed to do on the platform. It’s not Facebook, after all.
While the latest update is certainly different, and is more appealing visually, whether this enhances its ‘stickiness’ at all remains to be seen. Twitter has also been toying with removing @replies from the platform in favor of Facebook-style mentions which would be a big departure from its roots, though this has yet to materialize.
In its post-IPO world, Twitter is working hard to gain traction globally, so we can likely expect additional features, tweaks, enhancements and more in the months and years that follow.
Do check it out yourself and let us know how you feel! 😀