The Need to Combat Spam
As a leading social media platform, Twitter has been grappling with the issue of spam messages in direct messaging for some time. Unsolicited and irrelevant DMs can negatively impact the user experience and lead to frustration among Twitter users. Addressing this problem has become a priority for the platform to maintain its reputation as a reliable and user-friendly communication channel.Twitter’s Effort to Reduce Spam in DMs
To combat the growing menace of spam messages in DMs, Twitter introduced a message setting on July 14th that filters DMs from accounts that users follow while directing other DMs from verified users they do not follow to a separate message request inbox. This measure, according to Twitter, resulted in a significant 70 percent reduction in spam messages within a week of implementation.Unverified Users and the DM Limit
Twitter’s latest step to further reduce spam involves implementing a daily limit on the number of DMs unverified users can send. While the specific daily limit remains undisclosed, this measure aims to discourage excessive DM activity from unverified accounts and thereby mitigate spamming attempts.Promoting Twitter's Blue Subscription
In a bid to incentivize users towards its paid subscription service, Twitter Blue, the platform appears to link the DM limit for unverified users with the subscription offering. Subscribers to Twitter Blue enjoy various benefits, such as prioritized tweets in conversations and searches, reduced ads between tweets, the ability to use bold and italic text in tweets, and the ability to edit tweets. The subscription’s cost is $10 per month or $105 annually.Twitter’s Financial Situation
The decision to implement a DM limit for unverified users comes at a time when Twitter is facing financial challenges. The platform’s cash flow has reportedly dropped by 50 percent due to a decline in advertising revenue, leading to an increased emphasis on seeking alternative sources of income. Encouraging users to subscribe to Twitter Blue can potentially help compensate for the loss in ad revenue and contribute to stabilizing the company’s financial situation.Conclusion
Twitter’s move to implement a daily DM limit for unverified users is a significant step towards enhancing the user experience and reducing spam on the platform. By curbing excessive DM activity from unverified accounts, Twitter aims to create a more streamlined and enjoyable communication environment for its users. The promotion of Twitter Blue subscriptions aligns with the platform’s goal to diversify its revenue streams and stabilize its financial standing.