In July 2023, Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, imposed restrictions on the number of tweets users could read per day. The restrictions were initially set at 600 tweets per day for unverified accounts and 6,000 tweets per day for verified accounts. However, Musk later raised the limit to 1,000 and 10,000 tweets per day, respectively.
Musk said the restrictions were necessary to prevent unauthorized collection of Twitter data. Scraping is the process of automatically collecting data from a website or application. Musk argues that scraping has been used by artificial intelligence (AI) companies to train their large language models. These templates are used to create text, translate languages, and write different types of creative content.
Musk’s decision to limit reading of tweets has caused mixed reactions. Some users welcomed the move, saying it would help protect Twitter data from misuse. Others criticized the move, saying it was an attack on free speech. Arguments in favor of restrictions.
Protect Twitter data
Description of pic: Owner of Twitter
Elon Musk. Photo Credit: Google
Musk’s main argument for the restrictions is that they will help protect Twitter data from misuse. Scanning can be used to collect large amounts of data from Twitter, including usernames, tweets, and other personal information. This data can then be used for malicious purposes, such as creating fake accounts or spreading misinformation.
Encourage users to interact with the platform.
Musk also argued that the restrictions would encourage users to interact more with the platform. If users are limited to the number of tweets they can read, they will be more likely to click on links and read more tweets. This will help keep users engaged with Twitter and make the platform more valuable.
Arguing against restrictions
An attack on free speech
Some users argued that the restrictions were an attack on free speech. They argue that users should be free to read as many tweets as they want, whether they are verified or not. They also argue that the restrictions will make it harder for users to stay informed about current events.
Violation of Twitter’s Terms of Service.
Other users have argued that the restrictions violate Twitter’s terms of service. The Terms of Service state that users are allowed to “access and use Twitter’s services for their personal, non-commercial purposes.” The restrictions can be considered commercial use of the platform as they are designed to generate additional revenue.
Elon Musk’s decision to limit reading of tweets has caused mixed reactions. Some users welcomed the move, while others criticized it. It is too early to say what the long-term impact of the restrictions will be. However, it is clear that they have sparked a debate about the balance between freedom of speech and data protection on social media platforms. And then?
It’s unclear if Musk will keep the restrictions in place. He said he was “open to comment” on the matter. If the restrictions are lifted, it will be interesting to see how they affect Twitter user engagement and data protection.
There are several other terms relating to Twitter that have been discussed in the other part of this article. The link of a previously written article is be attached here, click the highlighted words below.
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