Hey Facebook, Twitter is testing its own 'Like' button (and changing 'favorites' to 'Stars')

Twitter has started rolling out changes to a select number of users today, including a new “Like” button and a rebranded “favorite” button that the company is now calling the “Star” button.

A sprinkling of Twitter users have posted screenshots about the new Like and Star buttons, but the company hasn’t made an official announcement about them.

The features are very similar to some of the core mechanics of Facebook, which has always encouraged its users to “Like” and share updates from friends. My guess is that Twitter wants to put more of an emphasis on its new activities stream, which currently shows you recent people who’ve followed you, liked your Tweets, or retweeted something you said. And with more users liking and “starring” tweets, that stream could expand to show the collective activity from everyone you follow.

The new buttons would also probably bring Twitter closer to the improved search and discovery it’s been targeting, as VentureBeat previously reported.

We’re reaching out to Twitter for official confirmation about the new buttons and to find out when it plans to roll out this update to all users. We’ll update this post with any new information.

Via TNW

Twitter bird image via zozain greetings/Shutterstock