Elon Musk has backtracked on a Twitter policy that would see all posts linked to rival social media platforms removed and accounts suspended.
The decision to reverse the tough policy came after Musk was challenged by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Just hours after the new rules were announced Sunday, the tweets and web page outlining them were removed.
The Twit boss then posted a tweet from his own account saying the rules would be changed, suggesting: “The policy will be adapted to suspend accounts only when that account’s *primary* purpose is to promote competitors, which essentially falls under the anti-spam rule. »
One of the main responses to the official tweets announcing the new policy came from Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter who originally approved the Elon Musk takeover.
The tweet that Jack Dorsey simply challenged with “Why? they were canceled later Sunday night
Sites on the “banned social media platforms” list included: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Post, and Nostr.
The debacle began Sunday around 5:30 p.m. ET, when Twitter Support, an official page, posted three tweets outlining the new policy.
The new rules would see posts promoting alternative social media platforms, via tweet or in the profile bio, suspended or potentially removed.
The deleted and more severe tweets implied that, on the other hand, action would be taken against any content linked to a banned social networking site.
The original set of tweets read: “We recognize that many of our users are active on other social media platforms. However, we will no longer allow free promotion of certain social media platforms on Twitter.
“In particular, we will remove accounts created solely for the purpose of promoting other social platforms and content containing links or usernames for the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post.
“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.
The drama unfolded shortly after Musk attended the World Cup final in Qatar, where he celebrated that Twitter was seeing a record number of tweets posted.
One tweet described Musk’s new policies as “dismal,” to which Musk asked what a better policy would have looked like. Another user suggested that unless the primary purpose of an account is to promote another site, it would be unfair to act
Musk responded positively to the tweet by offering the most lenient attitude towards linking to other sites and he himself responded with a revised policy.
Twitter founder Dorsey, who initially backed the Musk takeover, answered it all with one simple question: “Why?” »
Whistleblower Edward Snowden has offered public support to Balaji Srinivasan, whose release has been suspended under the new policy.
“It’s bad policy and should be reversed,” Snowden said. Musk responded shortly after saying the account would be reinstated.
One tweet described Musk’s new policies as “dismal,” leading him to wonder what a better policy could look like. Another then suggested that unless the primary purpose of an account is to promote another social media site, it would be unfair to take action against it.
Musk responded positively to the tweet by offering the most lenient attitude towards linking to other sites and responded with the revised policy himself.
He went further, apparently apologizing for making the change without consulting users of the platform.
“In the future, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. This will never happen again,” she wrote.
Soon after, Musk caused a stir by posting a Twitter poll asking users if they wanted him to stay on as CEO.
Musk apologized to his Twitter followers, telling them he would not make such changes in the future
“In the future, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. This will never happen again,” Musk tweeted.
“Should I leave the head of Twitter? I will respect the poll results,” Musk asked.
In less than two hours, the poll had collected more than 5.3 million votes, with a majority in favor of Musk’s resignation. These findings may have triggered Musk’s follow-up tweet: “As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” »
Just after 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Dec. 19, with 5 hours left on the ballot, 56 percent of voters said “yes” to his resignation, or more than 7 million people.
The drama unfolded shortly after Musk attended the World Cup final in Qatar, where he celebrated that Twitter was seeing a record number of tweets posted per second.
Taylor Lorenz’s Twitter profile is back online after she was removed by Elon Musk for previously doxxing a TikTok talent scout in a 2020 post
A few hours after creating a Twitter help page explaining the rules, the URL is no longer linked to an active page
The original page (since removed) specified which social media platforms were “forbidden” and strictly forbade any publication referencing them.
Musk has come under fire in recent days and weeks for his handling of the app, including his recent suspension of well-known journalists covering him.
On Saturday night, he kicked Washington Post writer Taylor Lorenz off the app after she was accused of revealing the exact address of TikTok talent scout Ariadna Jacob in a 2020 article.
Lorenz confirmed she was banned from the platform on Saturday night in a TikTok video, but Musk said less than 12 hours later she would lift her ban.
“Temporary suspension due to prior doxxing by this account,” Musk wrote in response to a Tweet about Lorenz’s ban. ‘It will be revoked shortly.’
The move was just one of many last-minute policy reversals Musk has overseen as Twit chief.
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