Twitter begins testing feature to warn users of 'intense' conversations

Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Twitter is testing a new feature that will warn users when they're about to enter into a contentious -- or "intense" -- conversation on the social platform.

The company announced the trial on Wednesday and said the feature is designed to support "healthy conversation" online.

Prompts on Android and iOS systems will inform users whether the "vibe of a conversation" is heated, Twitter said.

The company noted that some prompts are aimed at replies and will tell users to "look out for each other", "remember the human" and that "diverse perspectives have value."

To participate in conversations, users will need to click through the prompts.

Twitter tested prompts last year to advise users to revise potentially harmful comments as a way to deal with harassment -- similar to a feature Instagram uses in comment threads.

Twitter has also allowed users to remove unwanted followers without blocking them and installed a "safety mode" that blocks accounts deemed harmful for seven days.

A year ago, Twitter began removing false or misleading information that undermined public confidence in the U.S. presidential election and other civic processes. Former President Donald Trump is still banned from the platform.