Thursday, TechCrunch reported that some users of Twitter’s mobile application for Android had briefly seen a dedicated GIF button inside the app before it disappeared on its own. The new button gave them quick access to trending GIFs and was located between the camera and poll icons inside Twitter’s Android app.
According to user Phil Perlman, tapping the button lets you select trending GIFs, or tap through to choose a GIF reaction based on mood categories.
Only some Android users are seeing the new button, suggesting Twitter is internally testing the feature ahead of public rollout. Here’s what the GIF button looks like in the Twitter mobile app for Android.
Rival Facebook Messenger features a dedicated GIF button which pulls animated GIs from various sources such as Giphy, so users don’t have to scour the internet for reaction GIFs.
https://twitter.com/WalkerBait_TWD_/status/695063653855424513
Giving users a central place to browse GIF reactions might help boost usage of Twitter, which has been under fire by Wall Street due to the startup’s inability to find new revenue streams and accelerate its adoption beyond 300 million or so monthly active accounts.
Source: Phil Perlman via TechCrunch