Twitter announced on Sunday that users would no longer be able to advertise other social media platforms on their Twitter accounts.
“We recognize that many of our users are active on other social media platforms,” Twitter Support said. “However, we will no longer allow free promotion of certain social media platforms on Twitter.”
Twitter Support said that accounts that contain links or usernames for Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribal, Nostr, and Post will be banned. Listing third-party social media link aggregators such as Linktree and Link.Bio can also trigger a ban under the guidelines.
Cross-posting to those platforms will still be allowed, and so will posting links or usernames to platforms not mentioned.
After receiving backlash, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said the policy would be adjusted to only include accounts whose primary focus is to promote other platforms. He said accounts affected by the change “essentially fall under the no spam rule.”
Policy will be adjusted to suspending accounts only when that account’s *primary* purpose is promotion of competitors, which essentially falls under the no spam rule
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2022
Musk also announced that significant policy changes would be put to a vote in the future.
“Going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. Won’t happen again,” the Tesla CEO wrote.
Going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. Won’t happen again.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2022
Musk followed up with a poll asking users if he should remove himself as the head of the company, with 58 percent responding yes to 42 responding no.
Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of this poll.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2022
Musk has been embroiled in controversy since buying the social media platform in October. He laid off about half of Twitter’s workforce and fired the platform’s senior management.
He recently suspended several prominent journalists who reported on the ban of the account that tracks Musk’s private jet’s movements. Some accounts were reinstated after he faced widespread criticism over the move.
