Are your tweets worth money? Try your luck and add a virtual tip jar to your Twitter profile.
On Thursday, the company began testing a tipping function that will allow prolific tweeters to receive donations from their followers. The feature, simply known as Tip Jar, will provide a dedicated space for users to receive the financial contributions, instead of solely relying on third-party links to a payment provider.
“We $ee you—sharing your PayPal link after your Tweet goes viral, adding your $Cashtag to your profile so people can support your work, dropping your Venmo handle on your birthday or if you just need some extra help,” Twitter Senior Product Manager Esther Crawford wrote in the announcement.
If you decide to activate it, the tipping function will appear as an icon next to the “Follow” button on your profile page. Those who tap the icon will then see a list of various third-party platforms they can use to send cash.
The platforms include Bandcamp, Cash App, Patreon, PayPal, and Venmo. Surprisingly, Twitter is not taking a cut from the contributions.
“Tip Jar is an easy way to support the incredible voices that make up the conversation on Twitter. This is a first step in our work to create new ways for people to receive and show support on Twitter—with money,” Crawford said.
For now, only a limited number of English-language users will have the option of hosting a virtual tip jar. They’ll include creators, journalists, experts, and nonprofits. Starting Thursday, all English-language users can start sending tips to the jars via the Twitter app for iOS or Android.
“Soon, more people will be able to add Tip Jar to their profile and we’ll expand to more languages,” Crawford said. For applicable users, the tip jar can be added by going to the “Edit Profile” button found on your profile page. Tips can also be sent within Spaces, Twitter’s version of Clubhouse.
