Since the end of 2020, the Twitter Spaces have made it possible to create audio chat rooms to exchange conversations on various and varied topics with other Twitter members. These “spaces” were rolled out at the end of 2020. They were mainly used by football fans.
Since January 2022, in the middle of an election campaign, the Twitter Spaces were taken over by activists and sometimes, by the candidates themselves. This is the case of the Insoumis leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon or the Reconquest candidate! Éric Zemmour who had the opportunity to participate in meetings on Twitter Space to answer participants’ questions and discuss certain topics. These spaces mobilize many people at any time of the day or night.
What are Twitter Spaces used for?
The Twitter Spaces are audio chat rooms where Internet users can exchange or debate. All Internet users, whether they have a Twitter account or not, can connect to these spaces. the number of listeners is moreover unlimited. To join the Twitter Space, you have to go to the top of the news feed and click directly on the bubble in progress.
Several people can be involved in the limit of 11 speakers. He is the one who created the Twitter Space, the host, who can control the audio and choose who can speak in the live. Listeners should request permission from the host to participate in the chat through a button located below the microphone. Either way, they can listen to the live audio chat and react with emojis.
To create a space, nothing could be simpler: you have to go to Twitter with an iOS or Android smartphone and long press “compose a Tweet” then press the purple “Space” icon. Then you have to turn on the microphone before inviting users to join the space. The host can give a name and add a description to the space, which they can change at any time.
Spaces can be recorded by the host who can then rebroadcast them. And if they are not registered, Twitter still keeps a copy for 30 days to verify that the content does not violate the platform’s rules. If a violation is found, Twitter may extend the 30-day period by an additional 90 days after the end of space. This will allow users to appeal if they feel they have complied with the rules.
How are activists using Twitter Space?
Activists have taken over the spaces on Twitter to debrief the performances of their candidates, to discuss specific programs or subjects. For example, the day after the debate between Pécresse and Zemmour, the militants of the candidate of Reconquête! launched a debrief on Twitter Space titled “Zemmour/mégère”. In the evening, the close adviser of Zemmour Olivier Ubéda, the digital manager Samuel Lafont as well as the former deputy LR Guillaume Peltier joined the Twitter Space to “unroll their elements of language and prevent activists from spreading their doubts in broad daylight”, said journalist Nicolas Massol. Guillaume Peltier had assured in the Twitter Space that he was “very happy with this evening”.
That’s it, the party executives have joined Space to unfold the elements of language and prevent activists from spreading their doubts out in the open 😂😂😂 Peltier: “I’m very happy with this evening” https://t.co/jDrGZ04HIA
— Nicolas Massol (@nicolasmassol1) March 10, 2022
–
–
Activists also do not hesitate to compare the number of listeners present in the Twitter Space. For example, a space entitled “Radio Pécresse Debrief” was organized by Raphaël Chombart, co-president of a Valérie Pécresse support committee, with the presence of the Republican candidate. This one was mocked by Zemmour activists who began to compare the audiences achieved by the Twitter Spaces of Valérie Pécresse and Éric Zemmour.
However, one must be wary of these comparisons, since if theListeners who connect with their Twitter account are visible to everyone, the names of those who are connected to the space without a Twitter account does not appear not on screen. Since then, “the number of listeners may not correspond to the actual number of listeners”, claims Twitter on his site.
–
–
