Twitter Is Testing Podcasts on the Newly Redesigned Spaces Tab

Twitter will start recommending and streaming podcasts directly to users as part of a redesigned Spaces tab.

The podcast integration signals Twitter's continued expansion into audio. This feature, which is currently in testing mode, was launched on Thursday, August 25.

For now, this feature is only available to a limited number of English-speaking users on both Android and iOS devices via the Spaces tab on Twitter's mobile app.

Twitter's Podcasts on Spaces

Twitter enables users to interact with distinctive and interesting voices from all around the world. The company is currently pushing this connection to a whole new level.

Podcasts are now accessible through Twitter's newly revamped Spaces Tab, which also features a host of other improvements.

In their announcement, Twitter said, "We know that some discussions need more than 280 characters, and bringing people closer to the ideas, content, and creators they know and love is core to Twitter no matter where the conversations take place."

Listeners on Twitter will soon have easier access to a more curated selection of live and recorded Spaces covering the issues that are most significant to them.

The social media app's integration of podcasts into the platform has been developed in such a way that it is user-friendly and straightforward, enabling users to just press play and continue with their listening. This is also why the audio experience in the Spaces Tab has been redesigned.

This newly updated Spaces page includes the addition of customizable hubs that collect audio content that is related to particular topics such as news, music, sports, and more.

There will be live audio rooms, replays of previously recorded rooms, and popular podcast episodes from those categories, all of which may be tailored based on the user's preferences. Additionally, Twitter's adaptation of this feature appears and functions as a kind of curated radio experience similar to that of a Pandora's Box.

Twitter's Podcast Recommendation

Twitter has stated that, according to their own internal research, 45% of people who use Twitter in the United States also listen to podcasts on a monthly basis.

As a result, Twitter will automatically suggest appealing podcasts to help individuals quickly find and listen to the subject matters they are interested in hearing more about.

According to a statement made by a Twitter spokesperson to The Hollywood Reporter, the company is sourcing the recommendations from pre-existing RSS feeds and will personalize them based on the topics that users choose to follow as well as the general interests that are associated with their accounts.

Additionally, the most well-known and interesting podcasts from all over the world will be featured on these brand-new hubs.

Users are also able to rate podcasts by giving them a thumbs up or a thumbs down in order to further modify the recommendations they receive.

The social media app was kind enough to explain, in their announcements, what factors go into determining which podcasts a particular user gets recommended to.

For instance, if a person engages with content published by Vox on Twitter on a consistent basis, they will most likely come across a Vox podcast within a Spaces hub.

According to Vox Media's general manager, Ray Chao, "Vox Media has a rich array of popular podcasts across many categories, and we're thrilled that Twitter is expanding its audio capabilities to help more listeners discover them."

He adds, "Whether it's Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway's 'Pivot,' our daily news explainer 'Today, Explained,' or 'Stay Tuned with Preet Bharara,' we're excited Twitter is offering users and podcast fans an exciting new frontier."