Twitter Introduces Customizable Trends

Microblogging social network Twitter has launched a new feature that allows its users to create customized trends based on their current location and on what other users they choose to follow. The new feature was rolled out to give Twitter users more control over the trends they see, so that they are more relevant to their interests.

“Trends help you discover the emerging topics people are talking about on Twitter,” said Sara Mauskopf, Twitter product manager. “You can see these topics as a worldwide list, or select one of more than 150 locations. In order to show emerging topics that matter more to you, today we’re improving our algorithms to tailor Trends based on your location and who you follow on Twitter.”

The new trends lists will be available for both Twitter’s website and their mobile apps for iPhone and Android. While customizable trends are a new feature, they are not compulsory. Users can choose between the new option and the general list by specifying a location on the Twitter site:

 “Of course, anytime you want a glimpse into the conversations that are happening on Twitter around the world, you can always select individual countries and cities to see Trends in those locations,” explained Sara Mauskopf.

Twitter is trying to implement what other Internet giants, including Google, have also played with – features that allow for customized services and interest-based recommendations. In a way, interest is sometimes more important than the actual number of tweets in how a certain user defines what’s the most popular content. Twitter has just found a way to adapt to that fact, which is a very smart move on their part.