The microblogging Twitter has released QR codes, a feature that can make the process of following others a lot easier than ever before.
With the update that was introduced on November 16th, 2016, users can share their codes or scan others' codes by using their smartphone's camera.
QR codes, or Quick Response Codes, are machine-readable codes that consist of an array of black and white squares. The matrix barcode that was first designed in Japan can hold information by using standardized encoding modes to efficiently store data.
On Twitter, QR codes hold the profile for users. While usually QR codes consist of black squares arranged in a square grid on a white background, Twitter tweaked them a bit to have different background colors options, and by putting the user's profile picture at the center and a Twitter logo at the bottom right.
Each individual user has their own unique QR code, so when scanned, it will bring the person's account.
Not having QR codes was one of Twitter's disadvantage in the ever-growing social media industry. in it, people have to follow others to make a proper engagement, making that service big. Previously, users on Twitter had to click on the "Follow" button on others' profile to start with.
With the introduction of QR code, following others is now as easy as navigating to your own profile, tapping the "QR code" to scan others' QR code. With a tap, you can create one on your own and have it shared.
QR codes are meant to store information, typically URLs, and were once a rage among internet users. With them, people can share without having others to memorize or save anything. A quick snap of a QR code using a smartphone's camera can bring the person to the information quick and easy. After being scanned, QR codes can also be saved for later viewing.
QR codes were simple at those days, but apparently didn't go as many people had thought it would be.
While many have pronounced QR codes to be dead, there are still many services that use it. Snapchat and Facebook, for example. And as a matter of fact, Twitter's QR codes look and function are similar to Snapchat's.
While QR codes aren't anymore a game-changer, these scannable codes are still available to bring easiness to the sophisticated.
As for Twitter's QR codes, they can encourage users to follow more people because the codes will ease the process of following others. Currently, the feature is rolling out to Android and iOS users and may not be immediately available for everyone.