Twitter is making its service more accessible to people who are visually impaired with a new feature.
The micro blogging service will start adding descriptions or an alternative text (alt text) to images in tweets. Users can enable this feature by using the compose image descriptions option in the Twitter app’s accessibility settings. Along with users, the feature can be used by developers and publishers. At the time of adding an image to a tweet, each thumbnail in the composer will have an add description button. The description will be added to by tapping it.
People who are visually impaired will have access to the description via their assistive technology (e.g., screen readers and braille displays). Descriptions can be up to 420 characters. Twitter has updated its REST API and Twitter Cards in order to make sure the update reaches everyone.
The latest move comes from Twitter as a result of it’s #HelloWorld initiative, where CEO Jack Dorsey asked developers to tweet ideas and requests for the service. The ability to add text descriptions to images was the fourth most requested feature.
Twitter said in a blog post,
Photos have been at the center of some of the biggest moments on Twitter. As a core part of the Twitter experience, it’s important that images shared on our platform are accessible to everyone, including those who are visually impaired. We’re excited to empower our customers and publishers to make images on Twitter accessible to the widest possible audience, so everyone can be included in the conversation and experience the biggest moments together.
Twitter is rolling out the update on Android and iOS starting today.