Twitter prohibits “advertising” other social media platforms

Elon Musk flipped a Twitter policy that would delete all posts linking to other social media platforms and potentially permanently ban accounts that do so.

The decision to reverse that policy change came after Musk was challenged by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and whistleblower Edward Snowden.

On Sunday night, just hours after the new rules were announced, the tweets and the web page outlining them were removed.

Musk posted a tweet from his own account saying the rules were changing. Suggestion: “The policy will only be adjusted to ban accounts if the *primary* purpose of that account is to advertise a competitor, which essentially falls under the no-spam rule.”

One of the top responses to the official tweets announcing the new policy came from Jack Dorsey, the Twitter founder who initially endorsed Elon Musk’s acquisition

The tweet that Jack Dorsey challenged with simply “Why?” were later deleted on Sunday evening

Sites on the “banned social media platforms” list included: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Post, and Nostr.

The debacle began around 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, when Twitter support — an official site — posted three tweets outlining the new policy.

The new rules mean that posts promoting alternative social media platforms, either through tweets or in profile bios, will be banned or potentially removed.

However, the now-deleted and stricter tweets implied action would be taken against content linking to a banned social media site.

The original tweets read: “We know that many of our users are active on other social media platforms. However, we will no longer allow free advertising for certain social media platforms on Twitter.

“Specifically, we will remove accounts created solely for the purpose of promoting other social platforms and content that contain links or usernames for the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post.

“We still 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 Twitter seeing a record number of tweets posted

A tweet described Musk’s new policy as “sad,” prompting Musk to ask what a better policy would look like. Another user suggested that it would be unfair to take action if an account’s primary goal is not to promote another website

Musk responded positively to the tweet, suggesting a more lenient stance on linking to other sites, and responded with a revised policy himself

Twitter founder Dorsey, who initially backed the Musk acquisition, responded to the set with a simple question: “Why?”

Whistleblower Edward Snowden offered public support to Balaji Srinivasan, who was suspended under the new policy.

“This is bad policy and should be reversed,” Snowden said. Musk responded shortly after that the account would be restored.

A tweet described Musk’s new policy as “sad,” leading him to ask what a better policy might look like. Another then suggested that unless an account’s primary goal is to promote another social media site, it would be unfair to take action against them.

Musk responded positively to the tweet suggesting the more lenient stance on linking to other sites, and responded with the revised policy himself.

He went a step further by seemingly apologizing for making the change without consulting the platform’s users.

“In the future there will be a vote on major policy changes. Excuse me. Won’t happen again,” he wrote.

Soon after, Musk caused quite a stir by releasing a Twitter poll asking users if they would like him to remain at the helm of the company as CEO.

Musk apologized to his Twitter followers and told them he would not make such changes in the future

“In the future there will be a vote on major policy changes. Excuse me. Won’t happen again,” Musk tweeted

“Should I resign as Twitter boss? I’ll stick to the poll results,” Musk pleaded

In less than two hours, the poll had received more than 5.3 million votes, with the majority for Musk to resign. Those findings may have prompted Musk’s follow-up tweet: “As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for as you may get it.”

Just after 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 19, with five hours left for voting, 56 percent of voters said yes to his resignation, more than 7 million people.

The drama unfolded shortly after Musk’s attendance at the World Cup final in Qatar, where he celebrated a record number of tweets being posted per second on Twitter.

Taylor Lorenz’s Twitter profile is back online after she was removed by Elon Musk for previously berating a TikTok talent scout in a 2020 article

Hours after creating a Twitter help page explaining the rules, the URL was no longer linked to an active page

The original page (now removed) specified which social media platforms were “banned” and imposed a strict ban on all posts linking to them

Musk has faced criticism for his handling of the app over the past few days and weeks, including his recent suspension of notable journalists who have covered 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 booted from the platform in a TikTok video on Saturday night, but Musk said less than 12 hours later he would lift her ban.

“Temporary suspension due to previous doxxing of this account,” Musk wrote in response to a tweet about Lorenz’s suspension. ‘Will be lifted shortly.’

The move was just one of many last-minute policy changes Musk has overseen as Chief Twit.