Twitter, under the leadership of Elon Musk, has implemented a temporary restriction on the daily number of tweets users can view. This decision has drawn criticism and might hinder the platform’s ability to attract advertisers.
Described as a measure to “address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation,” the limits are the latest adjustment since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion (approximately Rs. 3,60,550 crore) last year.
Understanding the New Restrictions
How Will Users Be Affected?
Users are now required to log in to the platform to access tweets. Verified users can read up to 6,000 posts daily, while unverified accounts have a limit of 600 tweets, and newly created unverified accounts can view only 300. Once these thresholds are reached, users will encounter a notification stating “rate limit exceeded.”
Musk indicated that the limits will increase “soon” to allow 10,000 tweets for verified users, 1,000 for unverified, and 500 for new unverified accounts.
In an effort to enhance the appeal of Twitter’s revamped verification system, Musk has introduced a paid subscription model for verified badges—historically awarded to notable profiles—and established a tiered system with gray, blue, and gold badges.
The Reason Behind the Limit
The executive has asserted that these restrictions are necessary to mitigate the extensive scraping of data from Twitter by various entities, including startups and major tech firms. Musk remarked, “It is rather galling to have to bring large numbers of servers online on an emergency basis just to facilitate some AI startup’s outrageous valuation,” in a recent tweet.
Many generative AI applications, such as ChatGPT, rely on large volumes of data sourced from the internet, enabling them to generate content ranging from literary works to images.
Public Reaction
The changes prompted an outcry among users, with hashtags like “#TwitterDown” and “RIP Twitter” trending across the platform in recent days.
Several accounts, particularly those belonging to information agencies, journalists, and monitoring organizations, are feeling the impact, as they typically analyze thousands of tweets daily. For instance, the National Weather Service expressed concerns about potentially missing severe weather reports on the platform and advised its followers to utilize traditional phone lines instead.
Exploring Alternatives to Twitter
Platforms such as Bluesky and Mastodon have emerged as primary alternatives, witnessing a spike in user engagement following the announcement of the new limits.
Bluesky, founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and presently in beta testing, reported “record high traffic” on Saturday and temporarily halted new registrations due to increased demand.
Meanwhile, Mastodon experienced a surge of 110,000 active users that day, according to its creator and CEO Eugen Rochko.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
