Now Musk walks back his new policy to suspend Twitter accounts that promote Facebook and Instagram – after founder Jack Dorsey questioned the move: Users will only be shunned if the account’s ‘primary’ purpose is to promote competitors
- Twitter reversed its decision to stop users posting to some social media sites
- A rule on Sunday said links to other social media sites would be removed
- Musk then said it would only apply if that was the account’s ‘primary purpose’
- Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel and Post were banned
- Tweets and a web page revealing the change were removed on Sunday evening
Elon Musk U-turned on a Twitter policy that would see all posts linking to rival social media platforms deleted and accounts doing so potentially permanently suspended.
The decision to walk back the policy change came after Musk was challenged by the likes of Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s founder, and whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Just a few hours after announcing the new rules on Sunday, the tweets and web page outlining them were taken down.
The Chief Twit then put out a tweet from his own account saying the rules would be changed, suggesting: ‘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.’
One of the top replies to the official tweets announcing the new policy came from Jack Dorsey, the Twitter founder who initially endorsed Elon Musk’s takeover
The tweet that Jack Dorsey challenged simply with ‘Why?’ were deleted later on Sunday evening
Sites on the list of ‘prohibited social media platforms’ included: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Post and Nostr.
The debacle began at around 5.30pm ET on Sunday when Twitter Support – an official page – posted three Tweets outlining the new policy.
The new rules would see posts promoting alternative social media platforms, either through tweets or in profile bios, suspended or potentially removed.
The since-deleted and stricter tweets implied that in contrast, action would be taken against any content linking to a prohibited social media 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.
‘Specifically, we will remove accounts created solely for the purpose of promoting other social platforms and content that contains links or usernames for the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post.
‘We still allow cross-posting content from any social media platform. Posting links or usernames to social media platforms not listed above are also not in violation of this policy.’
The drama unfolder shortly after Musk attended the World Cup Final in Qatar, during which he celebrated that Twitter was seeing record high numbers of tweets being posted
One tweet described Musk’s new policies as ‘sad,’ to which Musk asked what a better policy would look like. Another user suggested that unless the primary objective of an account was to promote another site it would be unfair to take action
Musk responded to the tweet proposing the more lenient attitude towards linking to other sites positively and responded himself with a revised policy
Twitter founder Dorsey, who initially supported Musk’s takeover, replied to the set of with a simple question: ‘Why?’
Whistleblower Edward Snowden offered public support for Balaji Srinivasan, who had his out suspended under the new policy.
‘This is bad policy and should be reversed,’ Snowden said. Musk responded shortly after saying that the account would be reinstated.
One tweet described Musk’s new policies as ‘sad,’ causing him to ask what a better policy might look like. Another then suggested that unless the primary objective of an account was to promote another social media site it would be unfair to take action against them.
Musk responded to the tweet proposing the more lenient attitude towards linking to other sites positively and responded himself with the revised policy.
He went a step farther by seemingly apologizing for making the change without consulting the platforms users.
‘Going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. Won’t happen again,’ he posted.
Shortly after Musk created a huge stir by posting a Twitter poll asking users if they wanted him to remain at the helm of the company as its CEO.
Musk apologized to his Twitter followers, telling them he wouldn’t make such changes in the future
‘Going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. Won’t happen again,’ Musk tweeted
‘Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of the poll,’ Musk asked
In less than two hours, the poll had received more than 5.3 million votes, with a majority in favor of Musk stepping down. Those results may have triggered Musk’s follow up tweet: ‘As the saying goes, be careful what you wish, as you might get it.’
Just after 1am Eastern Standard Time on December 19, with 5 hours remaining on the poll, 56 per cent of voters said ‘yes’ to him stepping down, more than 7 million people.
The drama unfolder shortly after Musk attended the World Cup Final in Qatar, during which he celebrated that Twitter was seeing record high numbers of tweets being 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 article
Hours after creating a Twitter Help page explaining the rules, the URL no longer linked to an active page
The original page (since taken down) specified which social media platforms were ‘prohibited’ and placed a strict ban on any posts linking to them
Musk has caught flack in recent days and weeks over his handling of the app, including his recent suspension of notable journalists who have covered him.
On Saturday evening, 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 booted from the platform on Saturday night in a TikTok video but Musk said less than 12 hours later he would be lifting her ban.
‘Temp suspension due to prior doxxing action by this account,’ Musk wrote in response to a Tweet about Lorenz’s ban. ‘Will be lifted shortly.’
That move was just one of many last-minute policy reversals Musk has overseen as Chief Twit.