Twitter’s trying one other option to boost Twitter Blue subscriptions, this time by implementing limits on what number of DMs non-subscribers can send every day.
We’ll soon be implementing some changes in our effort to scale back spam in Direct Messages. Unverified accounts could have every day limits on the variety of DMs they’ll send. Subscribe today to send more messages: https://t.co/0CI4NTRw75
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) July 21, 2023
The major impetus for the move, as Twitter notes, is to combat DM spam, which can be the important thing driver behind its recent update which defaults all users to a brand new setting, where only verified users can send DM requests to non-followers.
Should you’re seeing fewer DMs, that’d be why, with the main target, ostensibly, on reducing unwanted messages from clogging your inbox.
But a side profit for Twitter is that it could push more people to sign-up for Twitter Blue, though the dearth of communication across the change has probably lessened this, as most users probably don’t even know that the brand new default setting has been implemented.
And now, non-Blue subscribers can even be restricted in what number of DMs they’ll send every day.
Which probably won’t have a huge effect on most users. I mean, Twitter hasn’t detailed exactly what number of messages you’ll have the opportunity to send, but in the event you’re sending out greater than, what, 10 or 20, you’re likely verging into spam territory anyway.
But nonetheless, many journalists use DMs as an outreach tool for stories, and implementing restrictions could make it harder on this respect.
Though that’s still unlikely to prompt lots of them to enroll to Twitter Blue, given Twitter owner Elon Musk’s repeated attacks on ‘mainstream media’, and journalists particularly, as being untrustworthy, corrupt, and worse.
The BBC interview last week was exceptional in illustrating why you can’t depend on the media for truth
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 15, 2023
Which will actually find yourself being a key element that backfires on Musk, and his efforts to construct Twitter right into a billion-user ‘every little thing app’.
Journalists have long been amongst probably the most distinguished users of the app, which has helped to spice up its relevance as a key news and knowledge source, however the more Musk works to alienate this segment of its user base, the more actively they’re in search of alternatives.
Which is why the recent influx of sign-ups for Meta’s alternative Threads app was significant. Amongst probably the most lively Threaders in its early stages? Journalists, who’ve had enough of Musk’s selective view of truth, and are keen to construct someplace else.
Which is why Threads could find yourself being an enormous threat, because many influential voices want it to work, and are actively and outwardly supporting the brand new platform.
In the event that they keep sharing exclusive content there, and promoting it to their large audiences, where do you’re thinking that those news consumers will go?
On this sense, implementing DM restrictions, depending on how far they go, could actually backfire on Twitter, versus driving more Blue sign-ups.
Which stays a failing proposition. Around 0.3% of Twitter users are currently paying $8 a month for a blue tick, and the opposite assorted Blue features, and it’s hard to see how Musk and Co. will have the opportunity to spice up that to a viable enough number for Twitter Blue to succeed in its stated goals of combating spam, by differentiating real people within the app.
But Musk and his team proceed to push the offering, within the hopes of creating it a ‘solution’, but increasingly, it looks like this was an idealistic vision which, in point of fact, won’t work.
Possibly DM restrictions will help, and possibly they’ll also help to combat spam. However the unwanted side effects could potentially be worse than the cure on this respect.