Why Tweet When You Can Chat? How to Use Twitter Spaces for Live Conversations

Twitter Spaces lets you listen to and engage in live audio conversations on the social network, much like Clubhouse. Using the Twitter mobile app for iOS or Android, you can start, join, listen in, and speak in a Twitter Space.

The goal of Twitter Spaces is to provide a venue in which you can join and participate in interesting or relevant conversations hosted by public figures, organizations, and regular users of Twitter. You can also host your own Twitter Spaces to engage and converse directly with followers and other people. How can you use Twitter Spaces ? Let’s check it out.

Join Twitter Spaces

Download and install the Twitter app for iOS or Android if you don’t already have it. In the Twitter app, tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the screen. Twitter spotlights one or two current conversations going on right now. Swipe down the screen to the Happening Now section to view all the current live Spaces. Tap a specific Space that interests you and then tap Start listening. You can now hear the audio presentation spoken by the host and other speakers.

The screen shows the host and co-host as well as any people designated as speakers. Tap the Guests icon at the bottom and swipe down the list to see the full names and Twitter handles of the host, co-hosts, speakers, and listeners. To search for a specific participant, tap the Search icon at the upper right and start typing the name or handle of the person you seek.

Next, you can add an emoji to the presentation or conversation to register your reaction. Tap the heart icon at the bottom and choose one of the emoji.

Display captions if you’re unable to hear certain parts of the conversation or just would like to see the words displayed on the screen. Tap the ellipsis icon and select Turn on captions.

To add a comment to the Space, tap the plus icon in the lower left. Tap your response and then tap the Tweet button. To see comments from other people, swipe the current comment to the left and keep swiping to see them all one at a time.

If the Space allows listeners to speak, tap the Request icon at the bottom. At the next screen, tap the button for Request to speak. You’ll then be added to the queue and may be called upon to speak if the host chooses to do so.

You can invite other people to the Space. Tap the Share icon at the top. From the menu, you’re able to invite someone else via a Direct Message, by copying a link to the Space, or by sharing it with a specific contact or through a specific app or service.

Next, you can switch to another task in Twitter or jump back to your home screen and open other apps, and the conversation will continue to play in the background. If you wish to leave the Space, tap the Leave link at the top if the Space is visible. Otherwise, tap the X button at the bottom of the screen.

Beyond checking out the current conversations, you can look ahead to upcoming Spaces. Browse down the screen to see ones scheduled for the near future. Tap the Set reminder button for any that interest you and you’ll receive a notification when the Space starts. Tap the Space itself and you can add it to your calendar and share it with other people.

You can also search for live or upcoming Spaces. Tap the Search field and type a word or term to see if any Spaces match it.

From a current Space, you can view the rules and other information and tweak certain settings for Spaces. In any Space, tap the ellipsis icon to display a menu. Tap About Spaces to see a Welcome screen with details about the feature. Tap Adjust settings to enable or disable captions and sound effects. Tap Share feedback to send Twitter a direct message with your feedback on Spaces or to report the current Space for any reason. Tap View Rules to read the rules about behavior on Twitter.

How to Host a Twitter Spaces Session

Next, maybe you want to host your own Space. You can do this for professional reasons, for personal reasons, or just for fun. From the iOS or Android Twitter app, make sure you’re at the Spaces screen and then tap the blue or purple microphone icon in the lower-right corner. In the Name your Space field, type the name you want to give to your Space.

Next, tap the plus icon to browse topics related to your Space. Select up to three topics that you wish to add to help define your Space and then tap Save.

Turn on the switch for Record Space if you wish to make a recording for future reference or playback. Now you have the option to schedule the Space or start it right now. To schedule it, tap the small calendar icon, pick a specific date and time, and then tap Schedule.

If you opt to schedule the Space, you can promote it ahead of time by sharing it. Tap the Tweet icon to share a tweet about your upcoming Space with your followers. Tap the DM icon to send someone a direct message about your Space. Tap the Copy link icon if you want to copy and paste a link to the Space. And tap the Share icon to share a link to your Space with specific people or through specific apps and services.

If you need to further share or edit your upcoming Space, tap the microphone icon and then tap the schedule button. The screen shows your scheduled Spaces. Tap the Share icon to share the Space. Tap the Edit icon to change any details or cancel the Space.

To immediately start a Space instead of scheduling it, tap Start now at the Create your Space screen. At the next screen, select the names of any accounts you want to invite through a direct message or just skip this step. At the next screen, tap the button for Share with a Tweet to send a tweet about the Space to your followers. Tap the Share icon to share a link to the Space via a DM, by copying and pasting the link, or by sharing it with specific people or through specific apps and services.

Tap the Guests icon at the bottom to invite any co-hosts and speakers. Anyone who accepts the invitation will then be able to join the meeting.

As the Space runs, your co-hosts and other speakers can chime in at any time. At the Space screen, tap the name of any participant. Depending on whether they’re a co-host, speaker, or listener, you can run a few actions, including removing them as a co-host or speaker, inviting them to co-host, removing them from the Space, reporting and removing them, or blocking and removing them.

Listeners can request an opportunity to speak by tapping the Request icon. To respond to the request, tap the Requests button. Tap the checkmark to accept the request or the X to reject it. Tap the ellipsis icon and you can make the requestor a speaker, invite them to co-host, remove them from the Space, report them and remove, or block them and remove. You can also opt to mute everyone if necessary.

To end the Space, simply remember to say goodbye to everyone and thank them for joining. Then tap End. After the Space has ended, tap the Analytics icon at the bottom to see details on it, including how many people tuned in and how long the Space lasted.