Twitter planning to add “buy” buttons to news feeds after adding random content to timelines

Twitter is rumoured to be examining the possibility of adding a “buy” button alongside “reply”, “retweet” and “favourite” as part of a partnership with mobile payment platform Stripe.

Citing “multiple industry sources”,Re/Code reports the new button will add the ability to enter shipping or payment information within Twitter, meaning users will be able to purchase goods and services without ever leaving the service.

The Twitter “buy” button comes after Facebook tested its own Buy button in late July.

Meanwhile, Twitter has confirmed speculation it has begun adding favourite posts and other random content to its users’ timelines in an update to a support page:

“Additionally, when we identify a tweet, an account to follow, or other content that’s popular or relevant, we may add it to your timeline,” said Twitter.

 “This means you will sometimes see tweets from accounts you don’t follow. We select each tweet using a variety of signals, including how popular it is and how people in your network are interacting with it. Our goal is to make your home timeline even more relevant and interesting.”

News of the changes has drawn a decidedly cool reaction from users:

Ok, why are random people's favorites on my timeline???

— Eva Brungard (@evabrungard) August 24, 2014

Bit fed up with @twitter adding random tweets to my timeline from people I don't follow

— Chris Lane (@chrisdlane) August 24, 2014

Tip: if you long-press a tweet that is injected into your timeline by the iOS app (whether ad or these new random things), you can "Dismiss"

— Avi Bryant (@avibryant) August 24, 2014