In the coming days, everyone on Twitter will be able to create polls and get fellow Twitter users to vote on any topic.
“If you want the public’s opinion on anything — what to name your dog, who will win tonight’s game, which election issue people care most about — there’s no better place to get answers than on Twitter,” said Twitter product manager Todd Sherman.
“For poll creators, it’s a new way to engage with Twitter’s massive audience and understand exactly what people think. For those participating, it’s a very easy way to make your voice heard.”
Coming soon! We’re rolling out the ability for everyone to create polls on Twitter: https://t.co/pH5a8q9Ujz pic.twitter.com/ijAKEMUdf1
— Twitter (@twitter) October 21, 2015
Until now, most people just tweeted questions and tracked others’ replies, used hashtags to tally votes or asked users to favourite or retweet to vote.
But now users can create their own two-choice poll right from the compose box and the poll will remain live for 24 hours.
“You can vote on any poll, and how you voted is not shared publicly,” Sherman explained.
Over the coming days, Twitter will roll out the ability to create polls on iOS, Android and on desktop.
The tool will no doubt prove a popular way for media to gather new material and gauge public opinion, for firms to conduct market research and for consumers to vent on issues that matter.
Poll image via Shutterstock