New Twitter policy prohibits linking followers to competing platforms

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On Sunday, Twitter announced a new policy that prohibits users from using the platform to advertise their profiles on competitors such as Facebook, Instagram and Mastodon. Twitter Support tweeted“Specifically, 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.” Twitter will continue to allow paid advertisements and promotion of the aforementioned platforms.

Under Musk’s ownership, many users pledged to leave Twitter, and especially after the suspensions of journalists. Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz was suspended from Twitter after posing a question to Musk about a story she was working on with colleague Drew Harwell. Musk tweeted that the suspension is temporary and was done due to alleged “doxxing.” (doxxing is the act of publishing or posting private information about someone with malicious intent).  Musk did not specify when this occurred.

On Friday, Twitter suspended several journalists who have reported on Musk in the past, including reporters from CNN, the Washington Post and the New York Times. Musk claimed journalists have violated Twitter’s terms of service by posting “assassination coordinates” for the tech mogul.  However after taking a poll on Saturday, Musk reinstated some of the journalists. About 3.6 million people voted on the poll and more than 58% responded that he should immediately reinstate the suspended accounts as opposed to waiting seven days.

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