In an apparent effort to stop users from switching to rival platforms, Twitter announced on Sunday that it would prohibit links to other social media services and suspend accounts that attempt to do so.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Twitter, later changed his mind, loosening the rules and creating a lot of confusion about what kinds of linking were permitted and not permitted on the platform.
Links to content on Facebook, Instagram, and newly emerging Twitter alternatives like Mastodon and Post would be prohibited under the new policy, which was announced Sunday afternoon. Truth Social, a Twitter clone backed by former president Donald Trump, is also covered by the rule.
The change made by Twitter indicates a move toward a more closed environment, one that still accepts visitors from other websites but makes it more challenging for users to leave Twitter’s website for other websites.
Specifically, Twitter’s support account tweeted, “We will remove accounts created solely for the purpose of promoting other social platforms and content that contains links or usernames for the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post.”
The new policy will still “allow paid advertisement/promotion for any of the prohibited social media platforms,” according to Twitter, despite the bans.
Within hours of the policy’s implementation, Musk appeared to back down in response to user criticism and concede to easing the restrictions. Musk concurred that it was “reasonable” that some people might want to link to their Instagram profiles to promote their own businesses during a conversation with Box CEO Aaron Levie, who called the new policy “sad.”
According to Musk’s tweet, “Policy will be adjusted to suspend accounts only when their primary purpose is the promotion of competitors. This basically falls under the no spam rule.”
Next, Musk launched a Twitter poll on whether he should “step down as head of Twitter” in the midst of the ongoing criticism.
According to Musk, “I will follow the findings of this poll.”
Early Sunday evening saw a 58% to 42% victory for “Yes,” a significant lead.
