Periscope Shutdown: Twitter App Code Hints at End of Live Video App

Twitter has been significantly expanding its video capabilities within the platform, developing Twitter Live and introducing Fleets to allow users to share more dynamic content alongside their concise 280-character posts, links, and images. Simultaneously, the company appears to be streamlining its portfolio of applications. Code discovered within the Twitter app suggests that Periscope – the live video broadcasting application that gained considerable popularity – may be nearing its end of service.

While specific dates and further information remain unknown, developer Jane Machun Wong identified a reference within Twitter’s app code pointing to a shutdown notification for Periscope (currently, this link does not lead to an active page).

Wong clarified that the current version of the Periscope app itself contains no references to a shutdown. However, she noted that the two applications share certain code elements and integrations, suggesting that “the text in the screenshot likely originated from Twitter through this connection.”

We have contacted Twitter for a statement regarding this discovery and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Should Periscope be retired, it would conclude a five-year period of operation for the app.

Twitter initially acquired Periscope prior to its official launch, as part of a strategic effort to emphasize video content, particularly live broadcasts. At the time, Twitter was establishing itself as a prominent platform for media organizations, independent journalists, and individuals seeking broader reach for their thoughts and activities.

Twitter was also closely monitoring and attempting to counter the growing popularity of Meerkat, a leading application in 2015. However, Meerkat’s prominence eventually diminished, either due to competition from Periscope or the fluctuating nature of app trends. It was later relaunched as Houseparty, an interactive video chat application that was subsequently acquired by Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite.

Periscope, in contrast, followed a distinct path within the Twitter ecosystem from the beginning.

The Periscope team, and especially its founder Kayvon Beykpour, became integral to Twitter’s overall product development efforts.

A key aspect of Periscope’s evolution was its integration into the core Twitter app; Twitter Live, “powered by Periscope,” was introduced and subsequently enhanced with API access and additional features. Twitter actively promotes content from Twitter Live, offering a dedicated @TwitterLive account to showcase users and organizations utilizing the live streaming functionality. (Similar approaches have been adopted by other major social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, incorporating live video features as integral components of their primary platforms rather than as separate, standalone applications.)

Consequently, Periscope has experienced a gradual decline in visibility as a standalone brand and application. This trend is not unprecedented, as my former colleague Josh observed its diminishing usage as early as late 2016.

Despite this, Periscope has remained available, consistently ranking among the top 100 social networking apps in many markets – a noteworthy achievement given the size of contemporary app stores. However, its overall ranking generally remains too low to register significantly in major markets.

The app has also seen limited engagement, potentially due to its association with its parent company and the shift in video preferences towards platforms like TikTok.

The impact of TikTok is particularly relevant. Earlier this year, reports indicated that Twitter was among the companies considering acquiring TikTok when its parent company, ByteDance, faced regulatory scrutiny regarding national security concerns (a situation that remains unresolved). A contributing factor to Twitter’s interest was reportedly its regret over discontinuing Vine.

Vine was a popular short-form video application that Twitter acquired, experienced substantial growth, and then shut down to prioritize resources towards – notably – Periscope.

Many have since speculated about the potential of Vine had Twitter continued its development and investment. (Alternatively, the outcome might have been different had Vine not been acquired by Twitter, but that is a separate consideration.)

If Periscope’s eventual discontinuation occurs, the question of “what could have been” remains pertinent. Even with live video integrated within the Twitter app, it does not currently occupy a central position. It is conceivable that live video may emerge as a prominent feature on another platform, developed by a different company, mirroring the success of short-form video on TikTok.