After adding its own integration of creator tipping and a bunch of other subscription options, Twitter now looks to be working towards a new ‘Awards’ option for Tweets, potentially providing a new way for creators to generate income from their on-platform efforts.
The Award For…
As seen in this image by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong, the new award option will appear as a new gift icon in the lower Tweet function bar. There’s also a microphone icon, at least in this example, before Jane’s user name, which appears to be connected to another of Twitter’s new monetization elements – Super Follows. Of course, this is all still just speculation. The actual use of this new icon is still unclear.
Awards supposedly look like Facebook’s virtual gifts, which you can purchase using Stars, its in-app currency to donate to creators. Likewise, YouTube also has ‘Super Stickers’, while TikTok has live gifts. Even Reddit has a form of tipping which it calls gifting options. What’s evident here is that almost every platform is either implementing or looking towards some sort of additional monetization element.
Awards on Twitter likely serve this purpose, specifically in providing more engaging ways to donate to creators, which, in turn, helps them get the attention and support of their favorite users. In Twitter’s case, rather than just donating, users would also be able to allocate a gift or award based on each individual Tweet. Situationally. This could be a great opportunity, especially if your Tweet goes viral – a viral Tweet effectively prompts more specific responses.
Now more than ever, the relationship between users and creators has developed into its own commerce model, where interactions between these two actors often result in the establishment of passive income streams. Streaming platforms such as Twitch have become hugely popular because of their ability to connect streamers to interested audiences, fostering a sort of mutual relationship that benefits both. In return for entertainment, users give creators monetary rewards. The cycle continues and eventually develops into entire creator communities that generate enough revenue to match those of small businesses. On this note, it makes sense why platforms would seek to implement such an element.
The Wrap
When asked for a statement, Twitter had only this to say:
“We’re always looking into new ways for people to engage with others on Twitter and don’t have further information to share at this time.”
Though it isn’t saying much, a lot of Jane’s discoveries have made their way to the live environment. It could be that we might experience this new option very soon, which is honestly another boost for Twitter given that it’s now in a race against time to meet ludicrous 2023 goals.
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