Twitter Spaces: Make Room for Audio Chats
What Are Twitter Spaces?
Twitter launched a live audio feature called Spaces, and this year it’s gaining traction. Unique from video chatting, which became extremely popular during the pandemic, Spaces does not require a camera. Rather, Spaces is solely an audio feature that provides an on-demand or scheduled channel for communication. There’s something to be said for hearing the inflection in a speaker’s voice as they confess their passion for a cultural movement or recite a narrative about their personal success. The authenticity and intimacy nurtured through listening to the human voice is a powerful capability that Twitter has now unlocked.
How to Use Spaces
The only way to start a Twitter Space is through the app on either an IOS or Android device. This capability is not available when accessing Twitter Spaces through a web browser. However, you can still join a Space and listen.
After creating a Space, the host has the option to share a link to it with whomever they like. The host can direct message (DM) specific people or post the access link directly on their page. It is important for hosts to keep in mind that Spaces are a public space, which means that anybody can join, no matter whether they follow you or even have a Twitter account.
Spaces can be hosted as small private forums or large sessions with millions of listeners. The host is empowered to manage listeners, co-hosts, and speakers during the session. During a session, only 13 people can speak at a time, including the host and co-hosts. However, the host’s administrative capabilities include appointing co-hosts and toggling speakers on and off. This provides flexibility by allowing more than 13 people to be heard throughout a session.
A host can schedule a Space up to 14 days in advance or start a new Space on demand. Each host can only have one Space scheduled at a time, so advanced coordination would be necessary for multiple planned future events.
Get Real About the Risks
Spaces has opened yet another channel for communicating in real time online. Broadcasters are using Spaces to expand their reach to a whole new audience who ingests news through social media. Spaces are publicly available and easy join. To that point, anyone in attendance of a Space can see new users joining in real time. Remember that when you can see other users’ behavioral indicators online, they can see the same information about you.
