Twitter has taken measures to address the “extreme levels” of data scraping and system manipulation by implementing temporary reading limits, according to a post by Elon Musk on the social media platform on Saturday. In response to the issue, Musk revealed that Twitter has imposed specific restrictions on different account types.
Verified accounts are currently limited to reading 6,000 posts per day, while unverified accounts have a limit of 600 posts per day. New unverified accounts face an even lower restriction, allowing them to read only 300 posts per day. These temporary limits aim to mitigate the impact of data scraping and maintain a more controlled system environment.
To address extreme levels of data scraping & system manipulation, we’ve applied the following temporary limits:
– Verified accounts are limited to reading 6000 posts/day
– Unverified accounts to 600 posts/day
– New unverified accounts to 300/day— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 1, 2023
The decision to implement reading limits follows Twitter’s recent announcement that users will now be required to have an account on the platform in order to view tweets. This move has been characterized by Musk as a “temporary emergency measure” to address the ongoing issues related to data scraping and system manipulation.
Musk highlighted the prevalence of organizations aggressively scraping Twitter data, which has negatively affected user experience and raised concerns about the platform’s security and integrity. While data scraping is not a new phenomenon, the scale and intensity of these activities have prompted Twitter to take immediate action.
Furthermore, Musk expressed his dissatisfaction with artificial intelligence firms, including OpenAI, for utilizing Twitter’s data to train their large language models. This has prompted Twitter to reconsider its data-sharing practices and take steps to safeguard user information from being exploited for purposes beyond the platform’s intended use.
In recent years, Twitter has made several efforts to regain advertisers’ trust and boost subscription revenue. These initiatives include introducing verification checkmarks as part of the Twitter Blue program, aimed at providing users with enhanced features and benefits. However, the growing concerns surrounding data scraping and system manipulation have necessitated additional measures to ensure a secure and reliable platform environment.
While the reading limits may inconvenience some users, they are seen as a temporary solution to address the immediate challenges posed by data scraping and system manipulation. Twitter is likely to continue exploring more permanent and comprehensive strategies to safeguard user data, enhance user experience, and maintain the integrity of its platform.
As the digital landscape evolves, platforms like Twitter will face ongoing challenges in balancing user privacy, security, and the responsible use of data. By implementing these temporary measures and raising awareness about the issue, Twitter and its stakeholders are taking steps toward addressing the concerns raised by individuals like Elon Musk and reinforcing the platform’s commitment to user protection and data integrity.
