Skip to main content

Twitter is building a menu option for Twitter Shops

A new screenshot from Jane Manchun Wong shows that Twitter is continuing on with its plans to bring shopping to the social media platform.

On Monday, Wong tweeted a screenshot showing that Twitter is apparently working on adding a new Shopping menu option to the left-side Twitter sidebar. The screenshot shows the new button for the Shopping option but the option itself doesn’t seem to be built yet as the Shopping screen just has an “Oops, something went wrong” error screen.

Twitter is working on “Shopping” button in the menu, which supposedly will allow exploring various Twitter Shops within the app

Twitter is also working on a new set of in-app icons, which looks bolder and has a bit more sharp edges pic.twitter.com/hYWN3pbkjp

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) September 26, 2022

Wong’s tweet also mentioned that the Shopping button “supposedly will allow exploring various Twitter Shops within the app.” If that does happen, the Shopping button would fall in line with Twitter’s recent shopping-related endeavors, namely its partnership with e-commerce company Shopify and its Shop Spotlight feature, which lets businesses display their products on their profile page. (Shop Spotlight is apparently only viewable on the mobile app.) Plus, for interested shoppers, having a dedicated Shopping menu tab could make it easier to find businesses that are participating in Twitter Shopping.

Twitter isn’t the only social media platform looking to add shopping to its services. TikTok and Instagram both have ways for users to shop for products on their platforms. The Instagram mobile app features a Shop section that lets you search for products and purchase them directly in the app or via merchants’ websites. Instagram even lets you purchase items from tagged products in posts, Stories, Reels, and Lives. TikTok also offers shopping on its app. Some businesses on TikTok have shopping tabs right on their profiles with a selection of products to choose from.

So far, Twitter’s version of shopping on its app is shaping up to look similar to TikTok and Instagram as it allows businesses to feature products on their profile pages (like TikTok) and as it builds what appears to be a more centralized landing page for shopping (like Instagram and its Shop section).

Editors' Recommendations

Anita George
Anita has been a technology reporter since 2013 and currently writes for the Computing section at Digital Trends. She began…
Twitter’s downfall made me look for alternatives, but they just made it worse
Twitter app on the OnePlus 10T.

Twitter is the only social network I’ve ever stuck with and enjoyed, but this has changed since Elon Musk took ownership of the company. The influence he has on it and its content has altered the posts I see, the people who regularly contribute, and the entire platform’s future. While some will welcome the changes, it has made Twitter less enjoyable for me — and prompted me to look for an alternative.

But the ones I’ve tried are simply not good enough and don’t have the same appeal that has kept me returning to Twitter for more than a decade. The shambles around Twitter and its alternatives has ended up making me rethink the way I feel about social media entirely, and perhaps for the better.
Trying to understand Mastodon

Read more
What does the lock mean on Snapchat?
A person using Snapchat on an iPhone.

If you're new to Snapchat (or just a casual Snapchat user), you might not be aware of all of its features, including a certain lock-shaped icon. If you've ever wondered what that little lock icon means on Snapchat, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we'll explain what the lock is for and how it's connected to a Snapchat feature.
What does the lock mean on Snapchat?
In Snapchat, that lock icon indicates that the Snapchat story you're seeing is what's known as a Private Story.
What exactly is a Private Story?

A Private Story is a type of Snapchat story that allows the Snapchatter who posts it to restrict that story's visibility to only a few, select friends. That is to say, if you post a Private Story, you can choose which of your friends can see it. Additionally, the only user who can invite other users to it or add Snaps to a Private Story is the user who created the Private Story in the first place.

Read more
Hive Social is my favorite Twitter alternative, but that’s not saying much
iPhone 14 Pro in hand showing off profile page on Hive Social app

Ever since Elon Musk bought Twitter, it seems that the once-favorite social media site has just been going down in flames. It’s a sad sight to see — fake news and misinformation running rampant from paid “verified” accounts, restoration of formerly banned accounts (they were banned for good reason), and so much other stuff that I just can’t keep up anymore. With all of these changes, there’s been a rise in alternatives to Twitter, like the incredibly popular Mastodon.

I prefer something simpler, like the new Hive Social that has recently made waves. Think of Twitter and Instagram, and what you would end up with if you combined the two. There’s also a little dash of Myspace in there, as you can even add some music to your profile page. I’ve been poking around on Hive Social since I joined a week ago, and while I’ve been enjoying my time there, I also noticed a few things along the way.
Hive reminds me of the early days of Twitter
OnePlus 10T Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Read more