Spam is invading Twitter in a very intrusive way. Almost every day I get messaged and followed by bot accounts following and messaging me based on keyword searches. I see every reply, I get mailed about every follow. This results in a poor signal to noise ratio.
It’s hard to tell exactly how Twitter can stop this entirely, but a good start would be killing any account that is auto-posting the same message to every user. (e.g. LambLover)
The more interesting question is whether they should stop humans doing the exact same thing under the guise of online marketing.
9 Comments
I have to say, I really liked http://twitter.com/Doc__Brown first time it hit me..
Posted by Damien B at 4:44 pm on 12 August, 2009.
Case in point: Right after I tweeted this post title, I get followed by “The Masked Marketer”.
Posted by Des Traynor at 4:51 pm on 12 August, 2009.
I get a lot of twitter spam also, it really does get your back up. Though I don’t think twitter is entirely useless as a marketing tool, you just have to not be seen as using it as such.
Consumers are becoming remarkably marketing savvy and can spot a marketing ploy a mile off. The typical approach of create a twitter profile, make a few inane comments, then start hocking your wares just doesn’t work.
I do think though that if someone were to put in the time to interact with others earnestly, be seen to be properly engaging and involved then any low key endorsements or product name dropping they would do would “slip past” and be given consideration.
Posted by Ed Benton at 4:55 pm on 12 August, 2009.
I’ve been using Twitter regularly since March 2007 and I haven’t once been spammed.
Posted by Furious D at 8:07 pm on 12 August, 2009.
I would pay - yes * shock horror * - actually give Twitter / someone MONEY to stop the spam bullshit. I haz a LOT of experience of it on the oul’ LittleQuiz account. Yes I brought that on myself, but each and evey time I tweet on the joescanlon account I’ll get a couple of spammy follows. God help me anytime Damien Mulley replies to a tweet of mine.
Posted by Joe Scanlon at 8:42 pm on 12 August, 2009.
Report the offenders to @spam, that’s what it’s there for.
Posted by jeremy logan at 1:11 am on 13 August, 2009.
I think spammers have been reduced a bit by Twitter changing things so that you can only message someone if they are following you. I think that’s the case now. Not sure what else they can do effectively but it would be good if they could.
Posted by Mike Mesh at 6:09 pm on 13 August, 2009.
Yes! Twitter needs a rep system that would weight the tweets and/or the tweeters. Some people think Twitter is to follow friends and family and distribute updates to them. A lot more people think Twitter is to distribute news and updates to everyone who follows back.
Posted by Diwant Vaidya at 9:39 pm on 14 August, 2009.
started my twitter community 3months ago and got overwhelmed with followers only after having subscribed erroneously to a followers stuffer platform. since just been posting daily (no scam) on twitter and the “spaming” problem got definitely solved. your followers reflet what your posting on twitter.
Posted by peter at 2:33 pm on 18 August, 2009.