Twitter Spaces is now open to all. That is if you have an iOS or Android supporting smartphone, with the audio chat room platform aiming to rival the popularity of Clubhouse now allowing anyone to host their own Space.
The platform confirmed the news in a… tweet, noting that the global rollout has begun and should complete in the coming days.
the time has arrived — we’re now rolling out the ability for everyone on iOS and Android to host a Space
if this is your first time hosting, welcome! here’s a refresher on how pic.twitter.com/cLH8z0bocy
— Spaces (@XSpaces) October 21, 2021
As The Verge points out, the availability is behind schedule by quite a few months, with Twitter stating that the functionality to allow anyone to host on iOS or Android would be available in April of this year.
Regardless most platforms are playing catch up to Clubhouse, which still dominates the spatial audio landscape, driven initially by its exclusivity.
As such, we do have to wonder whether opening up Spaces to everyone somewhat limits the desirability of being able to access such a platform. Another issue to consider will be policing of said Spaces, with it certainly capable of playing host to unsavoury and divisive content.
It is already a problem that Twitter has to tackle with its original microblogging format, so chat rooms will present a new challenge in terms of moderation.
Either way it will be interesting to see how Spaces takes shape over the coming year, with Twitter seemingly trying to do everything on its platform of late and seeing what sticks.