Twitter adds automatic subtitles to videos

In the last twenty-four hours the Twitter App has implemented the option of Automatically generated subtitles in videos. In this way, the contents of the platform will be more accessible for deaf or hard of hearing users. More specifically, the subtitles will be available for web, iOS and Android in over 30 languages different, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, English and many more. But let’s find out more about the new feature.

Twitter: App adds automatically generated subtitles in videos

Just last week the Twitter App began testing a new Vertical Feed. An update that makes the “Explore” section of the platform very similar to TikTok, offering users one content at a time – including videos – as recommended by the algorithm. With this in mind, the choice to release videos with subtitles is more than appropriate, because this facilitates the scrolling of the Feed when users are in a public place or do not have headphones at hand in order to listen to the audio of the content. . There is one detail to note, however.

Unlike what happens on Instagram and TikTok, which allow users to edit subtitle text before posting, the Twitter App will be limited to to generate them automatically. This means that it will not be possible to correct any errors to make the subtitling even more truthful. In any case, what matters is the effort shown by the platform towards the accessibility of the contents. In fact, in September 2020, Twitter set up a team dedicated exclusively to this. The release of automatic subtitles for videos, therefore, is just another effort within a larger project. On the other hand, a similar function already exists for Twitter Spaces, the Clubhouse-style App option.

In this regard, we know that the platform keeps a copy of the audio – including subtitles – for 30 days, in order to check if any users have violated the rules of the App. If so, the audios are retained for another 90 days so that the person can appeal. A long and quirky process, which does not seem to particularly help correct user behavior. Indeed, quite the opposite. Those who have accessed the function have often been the victim of insults of all kinds, without the platform having really done anything. In any case, it is undeniable that the Twitter App is trying to do everything to make life easier for its audience. And automatic subtitles are proof of that.