Alt Text has been supported in twiAlt Text has been supported in Twitter for a number of years, but these changes make it easier to add Alt-Text and for people without screen readers to see it.

What is alt text, and why is it important?

'Alt text' is a contraction of 'alternative text'. It's a short written description of an image, which makes sense of that image when it can't be viewed for some reason.

Well-written alt text is important to your website's accessibility, and its search engine optimisation (SEO).

More on How To: Write Good Alt Text

Images without Alt Text are not accessible to people using a screen reader. A screen reader reads the text of a page, but when it gets to an image, it just says image. Alt Text allows the poster to add a description to the image which the screen reader user will hear. Up to now, Twitter provided functionality to add alt text, but there was no visual marker for non-screen readers to know if there was alt text or not.

The move to make alt text more visible, will increase awareness of alt text and how important it is.

Unfortunately, not all platforms support alt text, so when you are next posting, check if you can add alt text. If not, let the platform know and help make the online world Ever Better for Everyone.