Twitter Implements ALT Badge Feature Globally, Image Descriptions Become Clearer

JAKARTA - Twitter announced on Thursday, April 7, that the ALT badge and improved image description are now available globally. This accessibility feature will make alternative text descriptions stand out more for all users.

Images with text descriptions will receive an “alt” badge, and clicking on the badge will bring up a description. Twitter first announced the upcoming changes last month.

“As promised, the ALT badge and exposed image description went global today,” reads a tweet from the Twitter Accessibility account. “Over the past month, we fixed bugs and gathered feedback from the limited release group. We are ready. You are ready. Let's draw our picture!”

Twitter provides step-by-step instructions on how to add image descriptions in blog posts:

1. After uploading the image to the tweet, select Add a description under the image.
2. Enter a description of the image in the text box. The number of characters is in the corner of the box; You have 1,000 characters available.
3. Click Save, and an ALT badge will appear in the corner of the image.
4. If someone clicks on the ALT badge, a description will appear on the screen.

According to a report by The Verge, prior to last Thursday's change, most users didn't always have access to alternative text descriptions unless using a screen reader.

Twitter first introduced image descriptions in 2016, but it can be difficult to figure out where and how to add them.

Twitter won't have a dedicated accessibility team until the end of 2020, with workers looking to work on accessibility issues voluntarily.