Twitter starts testing Instagram-like edge-to-edge layout

The new timeline design in Twitter for iOS takes images, videos, and GIFs and stretches them full-width.

Twitter address concerns over image cropping that it’s been dealing with over the last few years. (REUTERS)

Twitter has announced that it is testing some new layout changes on its mobile app. The company has revealed that it is testing edge-to-edge media in tweets on iOS. The new layout will help create an Instagram-like experience for the photos and videos in your timeline. Hence, helping Twitter to manage media better on the timeline. Twitter announced, “Edge to edge Tweets that span the width of the timeline so your photos, GIFs, and videos can have more room to shine.”

A mew Twitter layout is being tested on the iOS app. The new timeline design in Twitter for iOS takes images, videos, and GIFs and stretches them full-width. This change removes the margins on the sides and introduces an edge-to-edge design. While the test is being rolled out for iOS users, it's unclear at this point when or if Twitter plans to roll out this new design to all users. As of now, it is only in the “testing” phase. This change helps Twitter address concerns over image cropping that it's been dealing with over the last few years.

This is the second time Twitter has tried making changes to how media is presented in Twitter for iOS. Earlier this year, the company rolled out an update to show full-size images in the timeline as part of its efforts to reduce the bias of its photo algorithm. The test is a bid to "bring more focus to the content" as more Twitter users share media. It could also help Twitter counter Instagram, TikTok and other imagery-driven social networks. It might make give users a stronger incentive to post on Twitter and see if people are interacting more with media tweets.

For now, Twitter hasn't revealed how soon the feature might move beyond the experimental stage. It might or might not be rolled out for Android and web users soon. There is no word on the development. Twitter told The Verge that it is testing the change because it wants to better support conversations that are both visual and text-based.