Twitter is introducing a new way to cash in on your brilliant tweets. The microblogging site has started rolling out a Tip Jar feature that allows users to send money to their favorite accounts.
“This is a first step in our work to create new ways for people to receive and show support on Twitter — with money,” said Esther Crawford, senior product manager at Twitter, in a blog post.
People on Twitter are already doing this—adding their PayPal and $Cashtag to their bio or as a reply to a Tweet that takes off. We want to make it easier to show support beyond Retweets, Likes, or Follows.
— Esther Crawford (@esthercrawford) May 6, 2021
Everyone who uses Twitter in English on iOS and Android can now send tips, although only a limited group of creators, journalists, experts, and nonprofits can currently receive them.
[Read: 3 new technologies ecommerce brands can use to connect better with customers]
Twitter says it will soon let more people add the Tip Jar to their profile. The company also plans to expand the feature to more languages.
How to transfer money to a user’s Tip Jar
Accounts that have Tip Jar enabled will display a dollar bill icon next to the Follow button on their profile page. If you want to send them some dough, tap the icon and pick a payment option or platform for the transaction.
The payment services currently include Bandcamp, Cash App, Patreon, PayPal, and Venmo. On Android, you can also send tips within Spaces. Whichever service you use, Twitter won’t take a cut of the fee.
How to set up Tip Jar
If your account can accept tips, you can enable the feature by clicking “Edit profile” and toggling Tip Jar on. Then add your payment details and wait for the cash to start rolling in.
Privacy risks
The system looks simple enough to use, but there’s a pretty major security issue. If you send tips via Paypal, the recipient will see your address when they open the receipt.
After numerous people reported the issue, Twitter said it would update its tipping prompt and Help Center to warn users about the issue.
Response to the original poster from Twitter’s product lead confirming the issue & saying Twitter will add a warning. https://t.co/iv1JoqPdXO
— Greg Pak (@gregpak) May 6, 2021
Security risks aside, the feature offers a convenient way to monetize Twitter accounts, which could help the company grow its user base.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.