After four years, once again Google desktop search results will include tweets; it is an expansion of the deal between the two internet giants that began surfacing Twitter content on mobile devices a few months ago.
This is not for the first time that Google and Twitter teamed up and Google is not the only search engine to show up tweets. Microsoft’s Bing has been offering Twitter integration since summer of last year.
Earlier, the two companies teamed up in 2009 and tweets used to appear in Google’s search results, but the partnership ended within two years in 2011, reportedly because Ali Rowghani, then-Twitter COO wanted more control over users’ content.
Google desktop search results will include tweets was confirmed on Twitter by the two internet giants:
Firstly, Google tweeted: “Hey, @twitter. Search party at our place. Meet us on desktop?”
Twitter replied: “You got it, @google. We’ll bring the Tweets.”
You got it, @google. We'll bring the Tweets. 🎉
— Twitter (@twitter) August 21, 2015
Google desktop search results will include tweets for queries performed in English and the search query does not need to include the twitter hashtags or term twitter. The relevant tweets according to Google, will surface automatically after the search query.
I tried it out by searching my favorite Lady Gaga:
For instance, I searched for “Lady Gaga” on Google and it returned recent tweets from Lady Gaga’s Twitter account near the top of the page. The tweets that appear in the search results also included images and links contained in that tweet.
Google desktop search results will include tweets and this could give a boost to Twitter because it has been struggling to attract new users to its platform. Google said that currently the feature is available only in English, but soon other languages will also be added.