The social media company has announced that it will remove content that links to accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and other platforms.
Twitter has announced that it will no longer allow users to post usernames and links to their accounts on major social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Mastodon to engage in the “free promotion” of other social media platforms.
Many users reacted angrily to the move on Sunday. It was the latest controversial policy change implemented by billionaire and Twitter CEO Elon Musk.
“We know that many of our users may be active on other social media platforms; however, going forward, Twitter will no longer allow free promotion of specific social media platforms on Twitter,” the company said in a statement.
The company also stated that it would remove anything that links to Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Post, and Nostr accounts. Some of these websites have been promoted as potential Twitter competitors.
Interestingly, LinkedIn and TikTok were not included on the list.
“Accounts that are primarily used to promote material on another social site may be suspended,” Twitter said on Sunday. However, “cross-posting” to content from other social media platforms is still allowed.
The announcement comes at a time when many Twitter users have threatened to abandon the platform in protest of Musk’s actions. In addition, many criticized the rule, pointing out that Musk, a self-described “free speech absolutist,” promised a freer Twitter when he acquired it.
“Wow, for this ‘new and improved platform’ that claims [its] biggest priority is Free Speech, there seem to be a LOT of asterisks as to what Free speech means,” actor Josh Gad said in a Twitter post.
However, Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, backed the new restriction, saying it makes “absolute sense.”
“When I give a talk for a corporation, I don’t promote other corporations,” she said in a post. “If I did, I would be fired on the spot and never booked again. Is that hard to understand?”
Several detractors pointed out that Twitter users are not company employees and are not tweeting on behalf of the network.
Many critics noted that Twitter users are not engaging on behalf of the network and are not tweeting for companies.
Twitter announced on Sunday that it would require the removal of any content that violates its new policies and label it as an “isolated incident.” Moreover, it also warned about more severe consequences for future violations.
“If violations of this policy are included in your bio and account name, we will temporarily suspend your account and require changes to your profile to no longer be in violation,” Twitter said.
“Subsequent violations may result in permanent suspension.”