Twitter built a browser game to help explain its privacy settings

Twitter released a new browser game on Wednesday that aims to help explain some of its privacy settings. You can play a game called Twitter Data Dash right here.

"Welcome to Privacy!" The description of the game on the site reads. “Get your dog data safely at the park. Dodge cat ads, swim in a sea of DMs, fight trolls, and learn how to control your Twitter experience along the way.”

When you start the Twitter Data Dash, which was created by Momo Pixel, you'll first choose the language you want to play in, and then choose one of four characters that will accompany the dog at certain levels of data. (That character would otherwise appear in the text box.) The game itself is a pretty straightforward side-scrolling platformer. Each level is based on what I can best describe as Twitter Things - in one there are cats wearing ad boards, in another you evade trolls - and your goal is to collect five bones as fast as possible .

If you get Bones, the game will explain something about Twitter's privacy settings related to that level and even offer a button linking Twitter's settings. For example, when you exceed the Cat Ads level, you'll see a message about how Twitter optimizes your experience on the platform and indicates where you can turn personalized ads on or off. can.

The game has a delightful pixel art aesthetic. Of course, there are many shades of blue throughout the game, and I'm a big fan of the character designs. (The location pin characters in a level are great.) The platforming can be clunky, but the game is forgiving enough that it's not too hard to try a few times.

Twitter introduced the game as part of a bigger push around its privacy policy, which the company has rewritten. "We have emphasized clear language and steered away from legal jargon," Twitter said on its security account. "Starting today, you can view updates to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service in the app through Settings and on our redesigned Privacy Policy site."

That being said, much of Twitter's future is uncertain as the company has accepted Elon Musk's buyout offer. While he didn't say anything specific about plans to change Twitter's privacy policies, Musk wants to loosen Twitter's moderation policies, among other things.