Overview

Twitter Suspending "Spam" Accounts or Twitter Spam Policy Controversy refers to news and viral discourse about Twitter limiting and suspending accounts for violating its Spam Policy in late June 2023 when various Twitter users raised concerns about receiving violation notices despite not overtly engaging in activity that could be considered spam. Several Twitter users discussed the possibility of them receiving a spam violation notice for mass-blocking advertisers on Twitter. The limits placed on accounts found violating Twitter's spam policy include restrictions on being able to follow, like or retweet content on the website.

Background

On June 27th, 2023, many Twitter users purported to have been sent warnings by Twitter for violating the site's Spam Policy.^[1][2][3][4] Other users reported instances of their friend's accounts being banned for violating the site's Spam Policy. Twitter^[6] user @Nickiquote posted a tweet documenting some of the earliest users to report receiving Spam Violation notices on June 27th, gathering over 500 likes in a day (seen below).

Twitter's Spam Policy was previously updated in March 2023^[5] and forbids users from:

• Artificially amplify or suppress information or engage in behavior that manipulates or disrupts people’s experience or platform manipulation defenses on Twitter.
• Mass-registering Twitter accounts.
• Selling or purchasing followers or tweet engagements.
• Sending bulk or aggressive tweets or direct messages.
• Mass following and unfollowing accounts.

Online Reactions

Various Twitter users discussed their accounts receiving spam violation notices on June 27th, 2023, noting the restrictions on liking, following and retweeting places on their accounts for three days. Other users discussed their friend's accounts being suspended entirely despite not violating any given Spam Policy rules.

For example, Twitter^[7] user @sonicgott posted a tweet denying violating any of Twitter's spam policies on June 27th, gathering over 200 likes in a day (seen below, left). Also that day, Twitter^[8] user @EricVBailey noted similar experiences, gathering over 200 likes on their tweet (seen below, right).

Suspended For Blocking Ads Speculation

As people continued inquiring about the suspensions on June 27th, 2023, various Twitter users speculated that they might have been hit with Spam Policy violations after engaging in mass blocking against Twitter's advertisers, though this is unconfirmed.

For example, on June 27th, Twitter^[9] user @TheTNHoller posted a tweet echoing this idea, writing, "It seems Mr. “Free Speech” Musk is restricting the accounts of people who block the spam ads he’s using to keep Twitter afloat as he turns it into a haven for right wing extremism and porn bots. Lovely! 🤔." The post gathered over 4,300 likes in a day (seen below, left). Twitter^[10] user @NotABigJerk posted a similar tweet about their friend's account being suspended, writing, "stupid jackasses that run this site suspended jane for blocking too many ads for alibaba flashlights and christian alt right thoughtfluencers," gathering over 5,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).

Search Interest

Unavailable.

External References