Twitter Inc (NYSE: TWTR) is working on a new feature that will enable users to add quick polls to their tweets. Although the polls are only visible in Twitter mobile apps and website, and not in desktop applications like TweetDeck, there seems to be good chances for the feature to roll out.
Only certain people have access to this update since it is currently in testing phase. For instance, Twitter employees and certain verified profiles, including those in the media and sports, have accessibility to use of these polls, which reportedly to have a 24-hour time limit.
Several accounts posted on Thursday via Twitter the simple poll structure. It consists of a card form with two options to choose from. There is a “vote” button placed bellowed the poll options and two tickers: one that counts the number of votes cast and another that shows the time left in casting a vote.
This feature is intended to help journalists, government agencies or brands by seeking the opinion of their followers on a certain topic, but it is uncertain if every Twitter user will be able to make use of it.
Meanwhile, Twitter is also working on redesigning its “Follow” and “Tweet” buttons, which will be out at the end of next month, “The new display removes the count and control display parameters, and will render in the same pixel dimensions as a Tweet button configured without a share count today,” reads the Twitter community blog.
Not the First time
There have been other options to make polls via Twitter. Twtpoll has been one of them. According to its page, Twtpoll offers a lot of different options for making surveys: one-question or complex multi-page surveys, #Hashtag Surveys and quizzes.
Some famous Twitter accounts, like America’s Next Top Model, have used Twitter voting on their show. The NFL Fandom segment on @nflnetwork also launched a hashtag battle leading up to a game between @Seahawks and @AZCardinals. The show asked fans to make their pick win the game by tweeting #SeahawksTNF or #CardinalsTNF and showed the vote totals on air.
Others, like the musician Amanda Palmer, who is well known for her Twitter feed, decided to get her followers in a survey about health insurance using the hashtag #InsurancePoll. More than 10,000 Tweets were sent using the hashtag, which quickly started trending.
“Quick twitter poll. 1) COUNTRY?! 2) profession? 3) insured? 4) if not, why not, if so, at what cost per month (or covered by job)?” said Amanda’s tweet.
Source: Venture Beat