Twitter is sweeping out fake accounts like never before, putting user growth at risk
Source: The Washington Post
Twitter suspended more than 70 million accounts in May and June, and the pace has continued in July
By Craig Timberg and Elizabeth Dwoskin
July 6 at 3:44 PM
SAN FRANCISCO Twitter has sharply escalated its battle against fake and suspicious accounts, suspending more than one million accounts a day in recent months, a major shift to lessen the flow of disinformation on the platform, according to data obtained by The Washington Post.
The rate of account suspensions, which Twitter confirmed to the Post, has more than doubled since October, when the company under Congressional pressure revealed how Russians used fake accounts to manipulate the U.S. presidential election. Twitter suspended more than 70 million accounts in May and June, and the pace has continued in July, according to the data.
The aggressive removal of unwanted accounts may result in a rare decline in the number of monthly users in the second quarter, which ended last week, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak. Twitter declined to comment on a possible decline in its user base.
The extent of account suspensions, which has not previously been reported, is one of several recent moves by Twitter to limit the influence of people it says are abusing its platform. The changes, which were the subject of internal debate, reflect a philosophical shift for Twitter. Its executives long resisted policing misbehavior more aggressively, for a time even referring to themselves as the free speech wing of the free speech party.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/07/06/twitter-is-sweeping-out-fake-accounts-like-never-before-putting-user-growth-risk/
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)What about Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, etc?
(excuse my ignorance if my list is inaccurate; I don't do social media).
Squinch
(51,059 posts)snort
(2,334 posts)Snellius
(6,881 posts)Twitter better do something fast and wide before the whole platform will become unreliable. Comments have become completely suspect, overrun with trolls.
ToxMarz
(2,169 posts)WhiteTara
(29,728 posts)that make up Twitter.
Bengus81
(6,936 posts)It mentions bots--says many can just be weather reporting types of bots but nowhere does it say that 70 million bots were suspended in the last two months and none were a persons user account.
My guess is Trump is losing FAKE supporters right and left......
Bengus81
(6,936 posts)usaf-vet
(6,221 posts)....or as the military would call it disinformation.
usaf-vet
(6,221 posts)interfere with U.S. elections.
Thank you Twitter for your aggressive step forward.
Twitter I would take a close look at a POTUS account.
Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)If the Reputins won't do anything about Russian interference, hopefully "the free market" will stop the Manchurian Manchild before he destroys the economy.
bucolic_frolic
(43,382 posts)The accounts were fake. Phantom. They were never real to begin with.
jmowreader
(50,567 posts)canuckledragger
(1,670 posts)I'm sure Putin's troll farm will just keep cranking out new fake accounts for him though...
BigmanPigman
(51,643 posts)gee, what else is new?
Historic NY
(37,457 posts)besides they are stepping up their damn ads all over twitter, so its a wash.
Nitram
(22,915 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)OliverQ
(3,363 posts)on most of my twitter threads.