Black Twitter

Black Twitter for Android is a dedicated social network that purports to bring news and community connections — curated specifically for the Black diaspora. The trouble is finding the actual app amidst scattered downloads, spotty performance and debates over what qualifies as Black Twitter.

A mixed success of a community-centered experiment

Imagine scrolling through your Twitter feed and every post is from Black creators, every trending topic is about something taken from Black culture and the algorithm doesn't bury tweets about social justice or in celebration of Black accomplishments. That's the ambition of Black Twitter — a separate platform that aims to replicate #BlackTwitter minus the mainstream social media clutter. The app includes categories for status updates, photo sharing and comments like its inspiration, but the newsfeeds show you what's "Popular" or getting attention on the platform, in addition to "Recent" posts from your friends.

The app functions as a typical social media platform, through which users can follow accounts, like posts and comment on them. Users can share status updates and photos, browse content alongside personalizing before sharing, follow favorite celebrity or athlete entertainers while keeping up-to-date with popular news through specialized Popular and Recent tabs. The app boasts that it is "100% independent from any investors" and has no ads, so users can access the service for free without interruption. 

What works and what doesn't

The app was downloaded 50,000 times when version 19.0 was released in July 2020 and has a file size of 4.5MB which will not exhaust your storage space. Users say they are making real community connections and keeping up on what's happening to Black communities — everywhere. Ad-free means using an app without sponsored content jammed into its feed, and the emphasis on news sources for Black people gives the app perspectives not often seen in these pages. The app, though, has serious technical and accessibility issues.

Users have rated it approx 3.62 on most of the platforms with not allowed to create account, login issues and app not opening after installation as the common complaints. There are several variants on various download sites and it can be difficult to know which the genuine one is. Some users found that their accounts had vanished overnight, which meant they had to create new profiles from scratch. The app's download locations are also cause for concern—it can't be found in the Google Play Store, but through third-party APK sites Aptoide and APKPure. This mode of distribution is very risky and lacks update uniformity. This seems "blatantly racist," one reviewer wrote, adding that they were doubtful Twitter would "ever endorse" becoming officially involved with such a platform. 

Competition from better alternatives

There is a more established rival entering the race as well, thanks to former Twitter employees Alphonzo "Phonz" Terrell and DeVaris Brown — Spill, which was founded specifically for black and queer creators. Spill reached #1 in the App Store during the time of Twitter rate limiting, and Spill raised $2.75m in a pre-seed round. Unlike the scattered APK downloads of Black Twitter, Spill acts as a real beta with invite codes and proper app store distribution. The divide is apparent in user feedback: Spill users talk features, community growth and platform direction; Black Twitter reviews focus on basic functionality fails. For those looking for a Black-centric social media experience, Spill serves as a more grown-up, professionally-built alternative.

Black Twitter for Android is a decent effort at carving out a dedicated place for the Black voice online, however technical issues, suspect sharing mechanisms and better alternatives make it hard to recommend. People coming here for genuine Black community would have a better experience at platforms like Spill, or just participating in the #BlackTwitter spaces that exist on major networks. The app's heart is in the right place, but falls short of enough community connection to be worthwhile.