Twitter Communities Is Here As Alternative To Facebook Groups. Here Is How You Can Use It

Twitter said the Communities feature is now being tested on iOS and web, but will be available on Android soon

New Delhi: Twitter has announced a new feature, 'Communities', which it says will help different users easily find and connect with people with similar interests who want to talk about the same things. The feature appears to be an alternative to Facebook's popular 'Groups' where people can share discussions on a specific topic.

The microblogging site said Twitter Community will have its own moderators who can set rules and invite or remove users. In a post announcing the new feature, Twitter invited some users to create the first Communities, and said it will let anyone apply to create their own on the platform.

The feature is now being tested on iOS and web, but will be available on Android soon, Twitter said.

"Communities are created and self-moderated by people on Twitter maybe even you! Like if you are passionate about birds of the Southern Hemisphere or soup, you could start a Community for that in the future," the company said in a tweet.

How To Join Twitter Communities And What To Find There

The initial batch of Communities where users can be invited to include #AstroTwitter, #DogTwitter, #SkincareTwitter, and #SoleFood (a group for sneaker enthusiasts).

"We are launching with a handful of Communities BUT we expect (and want!) new ones to be created every week. Our plan is to build and update Communities based on your feedback, so tell us how you *really* feel which honestly you're already very good at doing ," the company added.

On iOS devices and on the web, the Communities option can be found on the sidebar from where the feature can be accessed.

"Right now, you have to be invited to a Community by a moderator or another member, but we'll be adding more ways to discover and join Communities soon," the company said in a blog. 

Any user in any corner of the world can be invited to join a Community via Direct Messages.

Twitter said the Community pages and timelines will be publicly available for anyone to read, quote tweet, or report. "We want to continue to support public conversation and help people find Communities that match their interests, while also creating a more intimate space for conversation."