Twitter will no longer allow users to share promotional links to seven social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Mastodon.
“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,” said the company in a post that has since been deleted.
The social media platform no longer allows users to share usernames and links to the specified competitors on their bio or on regular posts which could potentially send those who click on the links away from Twitter and onto other platforms.
“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,” added Twitter Support.
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We’re guessing the “open in new tab” option isn’t enough to get people to return to Twitter once they leave the platform for more colourful environments like Instagram.
In what seems to be a contradiction from Twitter Support’s now-deleted post, the platform’s not-so-new owner Elon Musk said users will still be able to post tweets that link to the seven platforms as long as it’s not “relentless advertising”.
“Casually sharing occasional links is fine, but no more relentless advertising of competitors for free, which is absurd in the extreme,” said Musk in a tweet.
Musk says traditional publishers would not allow free advertising on their platforms. We’re not sure which social media traditions the platform is referring to as cross-sharing has generally been the norm, or tradition, across multiple social media platforms.
“Twitter should be easy to use, but no more relentless free advertising of competitors. No traditional publisher allows this and neither will Twitter,” said Musk in a tweet on Sunday.
However, the platform will still allow users to share usernames and links to other platforms including TikTok, LinkedIn, and Parler. It did not explain the reason behind banning the seven platforms and not others. We’re guessing the remainder are not much of a threat to the company (for now).
You are allowed to crosspost to other platforms. You just can’t create or turn your account into a free advertising unit for one of the listed competing platforms.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 18, 2022