Soon Twitter-controlled drones will send photos in your tweet

Twitter was last week granted a patent for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which can be guided by likes, retweets and replies, and may also have telepresence and live video interview capabilities.

Twitter was last week granted a patent for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which can be guided by likes, retweets and replies, and may also have telepresence and live video interview capabilities. (Reuters File Photo)

Drones capable of taking photos and videos controlled by tweets and sharing them through users' accounts may soon change the way people use social media, according to media reports.

Twitter was last week granted a patent for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which can be guided by likes, retweets and replies, and may also have telepresence and live video interview capabilities, American technology news and media network the verge reported on Monday.

Although Twitter did not provide any information on the rollout plans for the device, a company spokesman would only say "Two words: Drone selfies" while describing the new technology, according to CNBC.

Earlier this year, Twitter launched its live-streaming app Periscope. It is now seen as a possibility that the company may use the app in tandem with drones to capture and broadcast events with Periscope users controlling the process.

The drone patent comes at a time when Twitter shares have recorded a sharp decline amid concerns about user growth and monetisation.

Some of the other big companies who have looked into using drones for their businesses include Google and e-commerce giants like Amazon and Snapdeal, but the idea is still an ambitious concept, considering the technical and safety issues.