Twitter is at it again, limiting the way for non-Blue subscribers to use the platform. The social media site recently revealed that it would shortly put into effect a new rule capping the number of direct messages (DMs) that unverified accounts are permitted to send each day. This change was made for the purpose of battling the growing spam problem in direct messages, according to Twitter. Does this sound familiar? Elon Musk recently limited the number of tweets users especially non-verified users can read blaming it on “extreme data scraping”.
We'll soon be implementing some changes in our effort to reduce spam in Direct Messages. Unverified accounts will have daily limits on the number of DMs they can send. Subscribe today to send more messages: https://t.co/0CI4NTRw75
— Support (@Support) July 21, 2023
On July 14th, Twitter introduced a new message setting that routes DMs from accounts people follow to their primary inbox, while DMs from verified users they don’t follow are directed to their message request inbox. This change resulted in a significant 70 percent reduction in spam messages within just one week of its implementation. Prior to this, Twitter limited the ability to send DMs to users who don’t follow them, exclusively to Blue subscribers.
While Twitter claims that the upcoming DM limit is primarily aimed at curbing spam, it’s hard to ignore the underlying implication that unverified users are being nudged towards subscribing to Blue membership. The company’s announcement explicitly urges users to “subscribe today to send more messages” and even includes a direct link to the subscription page. Additionally, Twitter had previously imposed a strict cap on the number of tweets an unverified account can see, limiting them to only 600 posts.
Elon Musk, the renowned entrepreneur and CEO of various companies, recently tweeted about Twitter’s ongoing negative cash flow due to a substantial drop in advertising revenue by 50 percent. While it remains to be seen whether income from subscriptions can fully compensate for this loss, it undeniably contributes funds to the company’s coffers.
Twitter’s continuous efforts to monetize its platform and improve its financial position are evident. However, as the company navigates these changes, it must strike a balance between increasing revenue and ensuring a positive user experience for all its users. As the social media landscape continues to evolve, it will be intriguing to see how Twitter adapts and shapes its future strategies.