Your Twitter timeline is about to get a lot more interactive. An update to Twitter’s iOS app, released Tuesday, will now allow users to see live Periscope broadcasts directly in their Twitter timeline.
The live-streamed broadcasts will automatically play as the users scrolls through tweets – a move that Twitter says will add “a whole new dimension” to the micro blogging site.
But the new feature could also add a whole new dimension to your monthly smartphone bill.
By default, Periscope broadcasts will automatically play when a user’s device is connected to Wi-Fi or using cellular data. Of course, this means if you are checking Twitter when using your data connection those automatic videos could end up eating up your monthly usage – eventually resulting in overage charges.
The good news is you can stop this from happening in the app’s settings.
To turn off video autoplay, open the Twitter app on your phone, open your profile page and tap the gear or “Settings” icon. Under “Video autoplay” you will be able to choose whether you want videos to play using Wi-Fi only.
If you don’t want videos to play automatically at all (because it’s a battery drainer too), you will have that option too.
While the feature is only available to iPhone users, Twitter said Android users will soon receive the same functionality. According to a blog post from the Periscope team, the feature will also roll out to Twitter’s web platform.
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