Update: Twitter Reverses Course On Controversial Link-Banning Policy

Update: Less than 24 hours after announcing links to other social media platforms would be banned on its network, Twitter has reversed course. Following near-universal backlash against the prohibitive policy, Twitter removed its blog post and deleted a @TwitterSupport tweet that explained the policy and outlined a list of sites from which links would be prohibited — which included larger platforms like Instagram and Facebook as well as smaller, more direct competitors like Mastadon and Truth Social. Continuing Elon Musk’s recent fascination with polls, @TwitterSaftey, another official company account, is currently running a poll asking users if Twitter should “have a policy preventing the creation of or use of existing accounts for the main purpose of advertising other social media platforms,” which will end at 9 PM Eastern time on December 19. Read the original story below for more info.

Original Story: Twitter has abruptly banned all links promoting competing social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post.

Essentially, this means Twitter users will no longer be able to include links to their other social media profiles in their bios or in their tweets. In addition to blocking links, the new policy bans the posting of usernames and handles from competing networks without URLs.

With the update, the Elon Musk-run tech giant “no longer allows free promotion of certain social media platforms” on Twitter. The company noted that it will be deleting all accounts that were “created solely for the purpose of promoting other social networks.” Additionally, Twitter plans to delete all existing links to the aforementioned social networks.

“We know that many of our users may be active on other social media platforms; however, going forward, Twitter will no longer allow free promotion of specific social media platforms on Twitter,” the company wrote on its policy profile.

We recognize that many of our users are active on other social media platforms. However, we will no longer allow free promotion of certain social media platforms on Twitter.

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) December 18, 2022

Going forward, Twitter will prompt users to delete tweets that contain links to other social media handles. If a user violates the new policy on multiple occasions, their account will be temporarily locked. Twitter will also temporarily suspend all users with links to other social platforms in their bios before asking them to delete the links.

Despite the ban, Twitter will still allow paid promotion of the aforementioned restricted platforms.

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