Twitter has released new features for its mobile site and Lite app such as the night mode, redesigned Tweet Compose box, and live counters for replies, retweets, and likes. These functionalities are not entirely new as they are already available on other platforms on which Twitter is currently operating, primarily its Android and iOS apps. The Windows 10 app is now also being updated with the same capabilities, the company said.
The night mode feature was launched on Twitter for Android back in July of 2016 as a way to combat eye strain at night. The functionality allows users to get rid of the bright white interface, which is not optimal when using Twitter in dark or low-lit environments. Last September, Twitter’s desktop site also received the night mode feature following a related pilot testing a month prior. The night mode is not really black but instead has a dark blue interface. Meanwhile, the updated Tweet Compose box is meant to help users transition from tweeting to browsing and vice versa more easily, keeping tweets relevant to the subject being discussed. Additionally, the real-time updates on reply, retweet, and like counts make it easy for users to stay up to date with the performance of their posts without having to constantly refresh the app. Twitter began testing these live counters for interactions a year ago and eventually rolled it out to its main mobile app(s).
Twitter says that the latest move aims to bring experience consistency across all platforms, being the newest step in its efforts to boost user acquisition and retention rates. The San Francisco, California-based company is running at a profit for the first time ever as of the final quarter of 2017 and is expected to do what it can to keep its bottom line in the black for the foreseeable future, with no major investments being planned on its part.