Twitter is taking the Spaces features seriously, to the point that it has been given the top area of users’ timelines in the app, the place Fleets used to occupy even until a few days ago.
Spaces, which is Twitter’s take on audio rooms, was introduced in a limited test last year, expanding it earlier this year. Now, a Space host can add two co-hosts, who they can rope in through an invite system. Spaces also allow up to 10 speakers. All in all, the task of moderation is expected to become more manageable, easier to vet speaker requests or throw anyone off the chat.
Once invited, co-hosts are given almost all the same moderation and managing privileges as the main host… almost. Only the main host can invite or remove other users as co-hosts, so one co-host is not allowed to invite a second one. Further, co-hosts can’t end the room; the privilege lies with the original host.
In case you haven’t used the feature, joining a Space is easy —click on the purple bubble that appears on top of the feed. Once you join, you can listen to the Space, react with emojis, read pinned Tweets, or DM the host to request permission to speak.
To start a Space, long press on the Tweet compose icon in the app and then tap the Spaces icon (multiple circles forming a diamond shape) on the far left. Give a name to the Space and begin. There is also an option to schedule for later. Choose the date and time you’d like your Space to go live.
With the Fleets feature being pulled off, Twitter is taking Spaces seriously. After Clubhouse, almost ever social network (and beyond) are trying to get an audio feature off the ground. For example, in June, Spotify launched Greenroom, a standalone app that allows people to create 1,000-person voice events. Facebook also launched its own spin on live audio rooms (called Live Audio Rooms) in June.