With a major deadline approaching, Twitter is really revving its new feature experiments in high gear. Twitter is now testing a couple of upgrades to its image alt-text descriptions for visually impaired users. There will also be a new ‘ALT’ badge being added to images where alternative text descriptions are available, as well as expanded description windows that make them more accessible.

I See

The new option puts a more specific focus on alt-text data, with a mini-window opening up upon tapping the ‘ALT’ indicator, outlining extra information. For additional context, it is possible to display Twitter’s alt-text descriptions in-stream now, but not in any stylized, dedicated format.

The display update makes it easier to both read and use alt-text descriptions, which is a welcomed bonus since more accessibility options mean equally heightened ease-of-use, leading to more conducive user environments and experiences. If users found the original format useful, then this update will only better their original perceptions, significantly contributing to optimal take-up.

Image alt-text on Twitter has been available as far back as 2016. At the same time, Twitter has been working to make it easier for users to add in text descriptions to improve overall user access. All these upgrades have been part of Twitter’s broader efforts to improve user accessibility, which also include other options such as video auto-captions and a range of improvements to in-app layouts and fonts. These were all developed in line with accessibility best practices, ensuring that Twitter remains an even environment for both regular and impaired users.

Despite still being in testing, boost alt-text descriptions look to already be a much-welcomed addition, potentially even helping out marketers reach new audience demographics, allowing them to cater to a broader range of people and possibly expand their own offers to provide better service.

The Wrap

It’s not too often we hear news of accessibility updates, which is kind of a downer since it leads you to believe that the impaired aren’t given as much attention as those who are ‘normal’. It’s a good initiative by Twitter, showcasing a more inclusive approach when it comes to user engagement.

For now, Twitter says that it’s only going to be launching the new features to 3% of Twitter across desktop, Android, and iOS. Twitter says that it must first assess the results of its initial test pool, before planning a broader rollout of the option. At least, in this case, Twitter can take its time and be rather meticulous in gauging since it’s all about improved accessibility. Hopefully, other platforms are improving on their own set of accessibility tools and options, which will definitely come in handy once we enter larger digital environments, such as the Metaverse, where lots of various visual and multi-dimensional elements come jumbled in a single package. A little alt-text here and there would surely help less-abled users, allowing them to enjoy Meta’s would-be digital frontier as if they had no impairment.

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Sources 

https://bit.ly/3w2VyXR