Elon Musk enacted a Twitter policy removing all posts linking to other social media platforms and possibly permanently suspending accounts that did so.
The decision to reverse that policy change came after Musk was challenged by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and whistleblower Edward Snowden, among others.
On Sunday night, just hours after the announcement of the new rules, the tweets and the web page she outlined were removed.
Musk posted a tweet from his own account saying the rules would be changed, suggesting, “The policy will only be modified to suspend accounts when that account’s *primary* purpose is to promote competitors, which essentially falls under the no-spam rule.”
One of the best reactions to the official tweets announcing the new policy came from Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter who initially approved the acquisition of Elon Musk.
The tweet that simply challenged Jack Dorsey with “Why?” were later removed on Sunday night
Sites on the “banned social media platforms” list included: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Post, and Nostr.
The debacle began around 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday when Twitter Support — an official page — posted three tweets outlining the new policy.
The new rules would ensure that posts promoting alternative social media platforms, whether through tweets or in profile bios, would be suspended or potentially removed.
In contrast, the since-deleted and stricter tweets implied that action would be taken against any content linking to a banned social media site.
The original series of tweets read: “We recognize that many of our users are active on other social media platforms. However, we will no longer allow free advertising for certain social media platforms on Twitter.
In particular, we will remove accounts created solely to promote other social platforms and content that contains links or usernames for the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr, and Post.
We still allow cross-posting of content from any social media platform. Posting links or usernames to social media platforms not listed above also does not violate this policy.”
The drama unfolded shortly after Musk attended the World Cup final in Qatar where he celebrated Twitter seeing a record number of tweets posted
A tweet described Musk’s new policy as “sad,” prompting Musk to ask what a better policy would look like. Another user suggested that unless the primary purpose of an account is to promote another site, it would be unfair to take action
Musk responded positively to the tweet suggesting the lenient stance on linking to other sites and responded with a revised policy
Twitter founder Dorsey, who initially supported Musk’s acquisition, responded to the set with a simple question: “Why?”
Whistleblower Edward Snowden offered public support for Balaji Srinivasan, who was suspended under the new policy.
“This is bad policy and must be reversed,” Snowden said. Musk responded shortly after saying the account would be reinstated.
One tweet described Musk’s new policy as “sad,” leading him to ask what a better policy might look like. Another then suggested that unless an account’s primary purpose was to promote another social media site, it would be unfair to take action against them.
Musk responded positively to the tweet suggesting the lenient stance on linking to other sites and responded with the revised policy himself.
He took it a step further by seemingly apologizing for making the change without consulting the platform’s users.
“In the future, there will be a vote for important policy changes. My apologies. Won’t happen again,” he wrote.
Soon after, Musk caused quite a stir by posting a Twitter poll asking users if they wanted him to stay at the helm of the company as CEO.
Musk apologized to his Twitter followers and told them he would not make such changes in the future
“In the future, there will be a vote for important policy changes. My apologies. Won’t happen again,” Musk tweeted
Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of the poll,” Musk asked
In less than two hours, the poll had garnered more than 5.3 million votes, with a majority in favor of Musk’s resignation. Those results may have led to Musk’s follow-up tweet, “As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for because you might get it.”
Just after 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Dec. 19, with 5 hours left on the poll, 56 percent of voters said “yes” to resign, more than 7 million people.
The drama unfolded shortly after Musk attended the World Cup final in Qatar, where he celebrated seeing Twitter post a record number of tweets per second.
Taylor Lorenz’s Twitter profile is back online after she was deleted by Elon Musk for previously doxxing a TikTok talent scout in a 2020 article
Hours after creating a Twitter Help page explaining the rules, the URL no longer linked to an active page
The original page (since deleted) specified which social media platforms were ‘banned’ and posted a strict ban on posts linking to them
Musk has faced criticism over his dealings with the app in recent days and weeks, including his recent suspension of notable journalists who have covered him.
On Saturday night, he kicked Washington Post writer Taylor Lorenz off the app after she was accused of revealing the exact address of TikTok talent scout Ariadna Jacob in a 2020 article.
Lorenz confirmed she was booted from the platform in a TikTok video Saturday night, but Musk said less than 12 hours later he would lift her ban.
“Temporarily suspended due to previous doxxing action by this account,” Musk wrote in response to a Tweet about Lorenz’s ban. “Will be discontinued soon.”
That move was just one of many last-minute policy reversals Musk oversaw as Chief Twit.