Twitter bans attempts to artificially inflate fame of popular hashtags

Feb 23, 2018 (LBO) – Twitter has released an update on the existing rules prohibiting the attempts to artificially inflate the prominence of popular hashtags.

A hashtag written with a # symbol is usually used to index keywords or topics on Twitter allowing people to easily follow topics they are interested in. In a blog post, API Policy and Product Trust at Twitter, Yoel Roth, however, said posting multiple updates to a trending topic using a hashtag with intent to artificially inflate the prominence of a hashtag is never allowed. Roth said people should keep this policy front of mind whenever use the Twitter API to publish, share, or engage with content on Twitter. Tech experts, however, see it is as a blanket rule that gives Twitter the authority to shut down anything it sees as “inorganic” tampering. Twitter has also banned the use of multiple accounts and the Twitter developer platform to attempt to artificially amplify the prominence of Tweets. As per the new rules, Twitter prohibits any attempt to use automation for the purposes of posting or disseminating spam. “These changes are an important step in ensuring we stay ahead of malicious activity targeting the crucial conversations taking place on Twitter including elections in the US and around the world,” Roth said.

“Failure to comply with new rules could result in enforcement action, up to and including the suspension of associated applications and accounts.” Accordingly, Twitter has suspended thousands of suspected automated bot accounts even though conservatives in the United States accused Twitter of left-wing bias. The conservatives have even started a White House petition saying they are being shadow banning on Twitter and it is a direct violation of rights to free speech. Apps or services which allow users to perform simultaneous actions across multiple accounts, should make changes to bring it into compliance with this policy by March 23, 2018.