Twitter Stops Some Images Animating to Protect Those With Epilepsy
MrPlow writes:
Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1337
Twitter has announced that it will stop animating APNG files posted by users so that people with sensitivity to motion and flashing imagery can feel more confident when using the service.
The decision comes just days after the Epilepsy Foundation revealed that its Twitter account had been the target of an attack that used flashing images in a bid to trigger seizures.
Exposure to flashing lights and particular visual patterns can cause seizures in about 3% of those with epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. "Photosensitive epilepsy," as it's known, is more common among children and adolescents.
The ability to configure Twitter to prevent videos and GIFs from autoplaying allows those with photosensitive epilepsy to protect themselves from flashing media, whether it's been tweeted innocently or as part of a malicious act. But Twitter Support said this week that Animated PNG files are able to bypass Twitter's autoplay settings, so it's now preventing them from animating when posted.
Twitter said it had made the decision "for the safety of people with sensitivity to motion and flashing imagery, including those with epilepsy."
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