24 Apr 2009

Twitter Spam

Posted in Social Networking
Spam With Bacon
Creative Commons License photo credit: srqpix

I just want to put my two cents in regarding the blatant twitter spam services that seem to be popping up lately. I hate the idea of exploiting people who take the time to read my tweets by throwing random (or even targeted) ads at them.

Yes. I think that they will probably blend in at first (although I have certainly seen some truly obvious ads posted over and over), but just like email spam I think (hope!) they will end up being ignored and those using them unfollowed.

That seems easy enough. My main concern is that those of us trying to share useful information on Twitter (either for fun or profit or both) will be ignored as well.

It’s true that spam didn’t ruin email as a means of communication, but can Twitter withstand that kind of “attack?” It’s geared toward short, relevant messages and if some/many of those messages start becoming blatant ads I’m afraid Twitter will lose some of its power as a communication and (legitimate) marketing tool.

As I said at the beginning of this post, I think Twitter will retain its popularity. However, I’m afraid linking to resources may become less worthwhile. Eyes will skim past links after a sort of “boy who cried wolf” effect sinks in.

So what do you guys think?

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  • Twitter Spam, Article contains informative information about the title.

    Keep It Up

    jacob
  • I think many are use of Twitter as a spam and only promote their websites.
  • What happens if you follow a spam account on Twitter?
  • If you notice your followers keep fluctuation all the time. One day there will be high followers and the next day you will have the numbers reduced a bit.
    This happens primarily because Twitter removes spammers by blocking them. I am sure twitter is doin their bit to avoid spammers. this is something that u cannot judge of a person or an account until they actually start spamming isn't it.?
  • Twitter becoming a problem for true twitter users coz most of people use twitter for spaming only
  • Twitter is sure becoming a Phenomenon right? like everyone is talking about it everywhere and joining it. I knew about it for a while and have been on it for a while. I want a lot of followers, is there any way to like advertise from a site or somewhere? I want followers that are not spam n that crap. I want interesting people like me that are addicted to twittering who will actually follow me back.
  • Twitter spam is becoming an increasing problem that's for sure.

    One of my biggest pet peeves is when people create fake accounts and then their first tweet is a blatant promotion via an obvious affiliate link.

    This type of tactic is sure to get me blocking the user and hopefully more will do the same to get these type of users banned.

    I think that Twitter has gained such momentum recently that it will retain it's popularity. Unfortunately, it will also attract the attention of spammers and we need to be on our guard to chase them out of town.

    I'd love Twitter to have some smarter software to be able to automatically detect fake accounts and obvious attempts at spamming.

    Twitter is too good a resource and communication medium to let waste away. Yay for Twitter!
  • Personally I think it's the spam that's going to kill twitter. Well.. not kill it 100%, but prevent it going ahead and positioning itself ahead of facebook, and going to bigger and better things.

    -Jean
  • I completely agree Sara and I unfollow all SPAM senders instantly, I have no tolerance for it.
  • Sooner or later people stop following each other blindly and will follow the ones they really like. Of course, there will always be some who will make a race of how many follow how many. Twitter is good for sharing ideas, forming quick collectives for common goals, etc. Twitter will survive it, those who abuse it won't.
  • I love SPAM bacon than Twitter spam. Specially the flooding message. geesh. Don't they have more important to do. Than spamming.
  • It depends on what your purpose in having a twitter account. Most would take advantage of it and use it for marketing which would bring traffic to their website.
  • Im getting irritated with people like John Mayer who are using there selling their Tweet spaces for advertising. I'm not too fond of Twitter in the first place, but just as its doing its job to help our endeavors, others come along to taint it. much like the results on google, how the paying clients have their links pop up first, regardless of their relevance to your keyword.
  • It depends on what your using twitter for, and also the morality of internet marketers. Done the right way it is certainly possible to advertise and at the same time maintain a good social network.
  • I'm a new Twitter user and I already experienced the 'flooding' of spammy messages. I hope this will not go on for very long because I appreciate the many good features of Twitter.
  • I feel exactly the same way.. Twitter was nice and fun in the beginning but now with all the spam and people trying to promote their website, twitter has just lost its meaning..

    sadly ive stopped using it
  • Yes. Twitter is few things. Some people use it as a way of sharing "Dear Diary" quotes with the world. Some people use it as a mini-blog. Some people use it for messaging..
  • you're right friend popularity of micro-blogging is also main reason to increase the spam in twitter so i think there should some validation to stop all if that to maintain the popularity of twitter .
  • I think all of that is happened because today micro-blogging has become so popular?
  • I also hate twitter spam. I hope there is a way to stop this.
  • Twitter is a means of conveying ones say. I don't think it could be ruined by spammers. It will definitely regain it's popularity.
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