Twitter bans links to Instagram, Mastodon and other competitors

Twitter users won’t be able promote their presence on certain social networks, such as Facebook, Instagram and Truth Social. In A post explaining these changesTwitter stated that it will take legal action against users who violate the policy “at the tweet level and at account level.”

Users can no longer link to their profiles on social networks in their Twitter bios, and they can’t send tweets directing users how to verify their Instagram and Facebook accounts. This policy includes links from other platforms. It also extends to posting usernames/handles from competitors without URLs.

Twitter’s support page states that users cannot tweet about posts from blocked platforms unless they have been posted across both platforms. Tweet from Elon MuskThis seems to be against the policy. He explains that sharing links on occasion is acceptable, but not as harsh as advertising for competitors for free.

Twitter may also suspend accounts that are “used for the primary goal of promoting content onto another social platform.” Users will no longer be able to link to third party link aggregators like Linktree and Lnk.bio. Twitter is fine with paid promotion on these banned platforms despite this feature It doesn’t seem to be available yet):

We are aware of the fact that some social media platforms offer alternative experiences to Twitter and allow users to post content directly to Twitter. It is not illegal to cross-post from our platform, even from prohibited sites. In addition, we allow paid advertising/promotion for any of the social media platforms that are prohibited.

Twitter has stated that it will remove any tweets containing policy violations and can temporarily suspend users with links to banned social networks on their profiles. It will also take action against those who try to circumvent the policy by hiding URLs to other platforms, or spelling a “dot for any social media platforms you used” In names to avoid creating URLs or sharing screenshots from your ID on blocked social networks.

Other platforms such as Telegram and TikTok, YouTube and Weibo are still safe from Twitter’s ban. The motive behind blocking links to specific networks is not clear. Twitter should be simple to use, but not offer any more advertising for competitors. writes Elon Musk on Twitter. “No traditional publisher allows this as well as Twitter.”

Twitter already Blocks links to Twitter competitor MastodonAt the platform level. If you try to tweet a link from Mastodon servers, or the site itself, it will fail. Although we do not know if Twitter will eventually remove links from banned platforms, it seems that users can still post links to these networks.

The former CEO of Twitter reacted to a Twitter support thread concerning the new policy. Jack Dorsey replied “Why?” Dorsey recently donated about $245,000To create the decentralized social network Nostr. This is included in the Twitter ban. Dorsey saysTwitter’s ban on the site is “nonsensical” and he currently lists a Nostr username in his Twitter bio. This could put him at risk for suspension. The edgeTwitter was not responsive when I tried to reach them for more information about their new policies.

This all happens after a Twitter week filled with chaos that saw it go viral Many journalists comment — including CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan and New York TimesRyan Mack – after they had tweeted about it ElonJet, Twitter account now bannedIt tracked the location the billionaire’s private plane. Musk claims that journalists “fixed his site,” and after that Twitter implemented a policy banning live location information as well as links to third-party URLs used for travel itineraries. While Musk later reinstated most of the banned accountsAfter asking users whether Twitter should lift its suspension, it temporarily suspended the service Washington Post Reporter Taylor Lorenz on the Advance Survey. “

Update, 2:39 PM ET Updated to include Dorsey’s reply and additional context around his investment in Nostr.

Update at 4:40 PM ET Updated to include Musk’s comment about the new policy.

Update, 5:35 p.m. ET: Updated to include Musk’s clarification regarding sharing links from other platforms.