Twitter Pilots Shop Module In-App Shopping Tool

Twitter

Twitter has launched Shop Module, a pilot version of an in-app shopping tool that will allow users to click on and purchase products without leaving the social media platform.

The new feature is visible to U.S. users of Twitter who access the app on iOS devices. When it’s fully functional, the Shop Module will take a viral discussion about a product on Twitter and send users a way to buy the product without stepping away from the conversation or leaving the app at all.

Twitter is not planning to take a commission on Shop Module-based purchases, a company spokesperson told Mashable.

“With this pilot, we’ll get to explore how our engaged, responsive, and chatty audience reacts to products that are emotionally charged — like a new jersey from your favorite sports team — or that provide lasting impact — like a new skincare regimen,” Twitter Revenue Product Lead Bruce Falck wrote in a blog post about the new initiative.

A “Shop button” was added to some tweets in March that integrated merchandise information as well as a link to purchase. Twitter is also exploring a creator platform with a “Super Follow” subscription. It’s unclear if the Shop Module will be a permanent feature on Twitter.

PYMNTS reported in May that Twitter CFO Ned Segal pointed to eCommerce as an important avenue to explore as it further expands its direct response advertising products.

“You should be able to click and buy something on Twitter,” Segal said at the J.P. Morgan Technology, Media and Communications virtual conference this spring. “We’ve come to appreciate that people do a lot of research on Twitter before they buy something.”

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey also highlighted the company’s new and growing dedication to bitcoin during his call with analysts, pointing out that crypto stands  as the “best candidate” to become the “native currency” of the internet.