Twitter has announced that it will remove accounts created to promote other social platforms and content containing links to them or usernames appearing there.
The platform said the move would affect content on many social media websites, including Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post, but would allow cross-posting of content.
However, Chinese-owned ByteDance-owned video platform TikTok was not included in the list.
The announcement was made on Sunday – the same day Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeted photos from the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, where he watched Argentina beat France on penalties to win the World Cup men’s football.
Musk attended the game alongside Jared Kushner, former US presidential adviser and son-in-law of Donald Trump. Trump’s Truth Social was among the platforms named in the Twitter linking ban.
Regarding the policy change, the Twitter Support account said, “We recognize that many of our users are active on other social media platforms. However, we will no longer allow certain social media platforms to be promoted on Twitter for free. .
He gave examples of content that would be removed, including “follow me @username on Instagram” and “check out my profile on Facebook – facebook.com/username”.
He added, “We always allow cross-posting of content from any social media platform. Posting links or usernames on social media platforms not listed above also does not violate this policy. »
Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who recently invested in Nostr, responded to Twitter’s support message with one word: “Why?” In a response to another user posting about the Nostr promotion being banned, Dorsey said it “didn’t make any sense.”
Noam Bardin, the founder of Post, tweeted: “Just wanted to assure everyone that you can post any link on http://post.news.
“We make it easy to add all of your social media links to your profile because none of us use just one platform. Freedom = Choice.
He added: “In case I get kicked off this platform… Goodbye and thanks for all the fishes…”
Last week, Twitter disbanded its Trust and Safety Council, a group of volunteers formed in 2016 to advise the social media platform on site-related decisions.
The policy change follows other controversial decisions on Twitter since Musk bought the social network in October, including the firing of senior management and the firing of about half of its workforce. A number of major advertisers have left the platform due to concerns over its direction.
Musk, 51, also suspended the accounts of several journalists after a controversy over the release of public data on the movement of his private jet. He later reinstated the accounts after criticism from government officials, advocacy groups and journalism organizations.
The billionaire, who has been warned he could face EU sanctions for his initial decision, asked Twitter users what he should do. Nearly 3.7 million people voted, with 58.7% saying he should reverse the ban immediately, rather than within a week.
“The people have spoken. Accounts that doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now,” he tweeted.
