On Sunday, Twitter made the announcement that it would block accounts that provide usernames or links to particular “prohibited” third-party social media sites.
In a tweet thread that was published as a large portion of the world was watching the World Cup final, Elon Musk’s business stated, “We will no longer allow free promotion of some social media platforms on Twitter.” The following platforms will have their connections or usernames removed: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr, and Post. “Specifically, we will remove accounts created exclusively for the purpose of advertising other social platforms.”
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Cross-promotion of content on different social media platforms will still be permitted, Twitter said in a blog post, but “Accounts that are used for the sole purpose of promoting content on another social platform may be prohibited.” However, it gave instances of prohibited information, such as “follow me @username on Instagram,” “username@mastodon.social,” and “check out my profile on Facebook – facebook.com/username.” It did not define how it will determine what an account’s primary function is.
Many Twitter users immediately criticized the new regulation in a frenzy.
The action follows the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of several well-known tech journalists last week for covering Twitter’s decision to block an account that monitored Elon Musk’s private jet.
Although Musk, who completed his $44 billion acquisition of the firm in October, has referred to himself as a “absolutist” for free speech, many of his actions as the owner and CEO of Twitter have been designed to suppress his detractors.
