Twitter, the social media giant owned by Elon Musk, recently introduced new rate limits for user engagement in response to concerns about data scraping and system manipulation. The move has sparked both curiosity and frustration among Twitter users as they grapple with restricted access to posts. Let’s dive into the situation, what Elon Musk had to say about it, and what the future holds for the platform.
Summary: Twitter has introduced new rate limits for user engagement due to concerns about data scraping. Verified accounts can read 10,000 posts/day, unverified 1,000, and new unverified 500.
Explaining the Situation
Twitter users were taken aback when they encountered notifications stating they had exceeded the “Twitter rate limit” while browsing the platform. The issue was later clarified by Elon Musk, who revealed that the limits were intentionally introduced as a temporary measure. These new limits restrict the number of tweets users can read in a day, and the severity of the restrictions varies based on account verification status.
Elon Musk’s Tweets and Ever-Changing Post Limits
Elon Musk has never been one to shy away from expressing himself on social media, especially Twitter. One of the most intriguing aspects of his Twitter presence has been the continuous changes in post limits that he implemented, seemingly on a whim.
It all started when Elon first tweeted about the revised usage quotas, indicating that verified accounts could make up to 6,000 posts per day. Unverified users, on the other hand, faced more stringent restrictions, with a limit of 600 posts per day. New unverified users have a limit of 300 posts per day.
To address extreme levels of data scraping & system manipulation, we’ve applied the following temporary limits:
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 1, 2023
– Verified accounts are limited to reading 6000 posts/day
– Unverified accounts to 600 posts/day
– New unverified accounts to 300/day
However, the seemingly “fixed” limits were anything but static. Merely two hours after his initial tweet, Elon surprised netizens by raising the limits for verified accounts to 8,000 posts per day. Unverified users, by this time, found themselves with an increased daily cap of 800 posts. And now new unverified users have a limit of 400 posts per day.
Rate limits increasing soon to 8000 for verified, 800 for unverified & 400 for new unverified https://t.co/fuRcJLifTn
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 1, 2023
But Elon Musk wasn’t done yet. Approximately three hours later, he again modified the limitations, bumping up the cap for verified accounts to 10,000 posts daily. Unverified users had their daily quota increased to 1,000 posts. And once again new unverified users have a limit of 500 posts per day.
Now to 10k, 1k & 0.5k
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 1, 2023
Even while writing this article I am totally unsure when these limitations gonna change again.
The changes didn’t go unnoticed, and Twitter users were left bewildered as to why Elon kept tweaking the post limits. Speculations and memes flooded the platform, but it wasn’t until Elon’s next tweet that the reason behind the ever-changing quotas was revealed.
Elon also retweeted a tweet from a parody account of his where he tweeted going outside and being less addicted to Twitter is important. That’s why Elon implemented these limits. He also said by this new limitation Elon was doing a good deed for the world. This retweet left many amused and some even applauded the intention behind it.
The reason I set a “View Limit” is because we are all Twitter addicts and need to go outside.
— Elon Musk (Parody) (@ElonMuskAOC) July 1, 2023
I’m doing a good deed for the world here.
Also, that’s another view you just used.
The Future and Meta’s New Twitter Rival
Twitter’s decision to implement rate limits came as a response to concerns about data scraping and system manipulation from several organizations. While it aims to curb these issues, it also raises questions about the platform’s stability and user experience. Additionally, Twitter’s move to restrict access and the introduction of Twitter Blue, a pay-for-verification scheme, seem to be part of Musk’s strategy to monetize the platform. As Twitter faces challenges, social media giant Meta is reportedly gearing up to launch its own Twitter rival, which adds another layer of competition in the market.
Also read: Elon Musk Vs Musk Zuckerberg Cage Fight Latest Update
Conclusion
Twitter’s recent implementation of rate limits for user engagement has caused a stir among its users, with both frustration and curiosity surrounding the changes. Elon Musk’s constant adjustments to the limits in response to feedback demonstrate the company’s willingness to adapt. However, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the user experience and how Twitter’s competition with Meta’s new rival will unfold.
Source: The Verge, The New York Times
