Twitter has made some drastic changes with its Tweetdeck platforms in a move that is set to affect most influencers across the world.
In the recent changes, Twitter has blocked any attempt to want to use multiple twitter accounts, a common norm by almost all influencers in Kenya and beyond.
“One of the most violations we see is the use of multiple accounts and Twitter developer platform to attempt to artificially amplify or inflate the prominence of certain tweets,” read a statement from Twitter.
Before the changes, influencers could use multiple accounts to send out similar or different tweets at a go using the Tweetdeck platform. With the changes, one cannot send more than one tweet at a go and one is also incapable of retweeting a tweet by use of more than two accounts like it was before.
“Twitter prohibits any attempt to use automation for the purpose of posting or disseminating spam, and such behavior may result in enforcement action,” said Twitter.
Twitter says the move is an “important step in ensuring that we stay ahead of malicious activity targeting the crucial conversations taking place on Twitter – including elections in the United States and around the world.”
According to Twitter, user or users should avoid the posting of similar or identical posts simultaneously or substantially to multiple accounts.
“As an alternative to posting identical content, you can Retweet content from one account from the other accounts you wish to share that post from. This should only be done from a small number of distinct accounts that you directly control. Please note that bulk, aggressive, or very high-volume automated Retweeting is not permitted under the Automation Rules, and may be subject to enforcement actions,” said Twitter.
Other Changes made by Twitter are as follows:
- Do not (and do not allow your users to) simultaneously perform actions such as Likes, Retweets, or follows from multiple accounts.For example, your service should not permit a user to select several accounts they control to follow a specified account.
- The use of any form of automation (including scheduling) to post identical or substantially similar content, or to perform actions such as Likes or Retweets, across many accounts that have authorized your app (whether or not you created or directly control those accounts) is not permitted.For example, applications that coordinate activity across multiple accounts to simultaneously post Tweets with a specific hashtag (e.g. in an attempt to cause that topic to trend) are prohibited.
- While we continue to permit cross-posting outside information (such as weather alerts or RSS feeds) to Twitter using automation, you should only post this content to one account you control.
- As a sole exception to this rule, applications that broadcast or share weather, emergency, or other public service announcements of broad community interest (for example, earthquake or tsunami alerts) are permitted to post this content across multiple accounts who have authorized an app.
- If your app or service includes features which allow users to perform simultaneous actions across multiple accounts, you should make changes to bring it into compliance with this policy by March 23, 2018. Failure to comply with these rules could result in enforcement action, up to and including the suspension of associated applications and accounts.
- Posting duplicative or substantially similar content, replies, or mentions over multiple accounts you control, or creating duplicate or substantially similar accounts, with or without the use of automation, is never allowed.
- Posting multiple updates (on a single account or across multiple accounts you control) to a trending or popular topic (for instance, through the use of a specific hashtag) with an intent to subvert or manipulate the topic, or to artificially inflate the prominence of a hashtag or topic, is never allowed.