Today, Twitter makes it easier to add descriptions on photos. The platform rolls out a dedicated Alt-Text button for images. Last 29 March 2016, Twitter added Alt-Text as an extra menu in which not all users are aware of. With the 2020 roll-out, users can directly see a ‘+ALT” indicator when uploading a photo. One can add a detailed text of up to 420 characters.
The Alt-Text roll out for Twitter desktop and mobile takes effect 28 May 2020.
Implications for Marketers:
The Alt-Text button is the 4th most requested feature on Twitter. It’s a way to include everyone in the conversation. Adding a text description about an image can translate to automated screen readers and Braille devices – which are beneficial to the visually impaired. For marketers, Alt-text can help brand images more searchable. It’ll be easier for search engines and API partners to identify specific tweets. We suggest that brands experiment on different words to describe an image. By setting up alerts, they can see descriptions that could be of value. Moreso, using brand terms on the image detail can be a means of exposure.
Reference: https://twitter.com/TwitterA11y/status/1265689579371323392
