Twitter “follower” SPAM
by Rage on Apr.20, 2009, under All Today's Rage, Twitter Rage
As of late I have been bombarded with “Thanks for following, to get more (or if not receiving enough) followers click here.” I say enough as Twitter is becoming the next pit stop for SPAM. One of my recent tweets requested that “Any Follower requesting to get me more followers, stop following.” I knew that requesting this type of action publicly would bring forth even more DM (Direct Message) activity. However, I feel it important for new twitsters to know and understand you can still stand up for yourself on Twitter without being bullied. As a result I had several followers (presumably marketers) stop following which proves action can add to result.
SPAM in any form in unavoidable but control is possible. To report SPAM directly to Twitter sent a tweet to @spam to follow Twitter’s spam profile & report Twitter spam via direct message.
A recent Twitter article written by Mashable “FOLLOW FAIL: The Top 10 Reasons I Will Not Follow You in Return on Twitter” in tip 8 clearly states these types of twitter approaches to gain followers fail.
8. Your most recent updates or DM’s make references to any need to achieve “more Twitter followers”
…or “enough new followers to reach 10,000 followers by midnight!”
For me, Twitter is not a shallow popularity contest, it is about forging interesting connections and conversations with other people. My Twitter followers are far more to me than a simple follower count: they are friends, they are colleagues, they are collaborators, they are peers, and they are sources. To follow someone in return whose only intent is clearly to acquire more followers would be to devalue the esteem with which I hold my other followers.
It rages me! How about you? Comment on your Rage.
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April 20th, 2009 on 10:28 pm
I agree on the spam aspect and don’t use any of that auto messaging stuff. I usually follow people that follow me just to see what they have to say. I think it takes a few tweets to decide someone’s value.
I am an online business owner and my goals are a little different but I have never clicked on one of those DM messages about a service to get more followers. I think it takes the fun out of it.
I tried Mr.Tweet when I first joined but that has not helped as much as my looking for good people to follow.
I opt for direct follows. I am waiting for a topic I am more passionate about to really rant.
Kevin
April 21st, 2009 on 3:30 pm
Thank you for your comments. My twitter passion lies with the people and the relationships that are founded daily. I often follow several different people looking for a match or niche spurring a thought or varying conversation. Variety is key for me in identifying interests and daily rages. Let me know what topics you hold a strong passion for and I will add to the list of growing items for the site.
April 22nd, 2009 on 1:00 pm
I just tweeted about this – I did follow these ‘internet marketing guru’ types at first, but now I just don’t follow unless someone seems to have something interesting to say. Sadly, many still send these awful DMs as their first contact.
One recently asked “want to know how I got 4000 followers in 5 days and earned $2500 doing it?” I wrote back, No, and btw, you only have 2499 followers…
It’s messing up twitter, sure I want to do business, but with real people and inbetween, I’d like good conversations.
April 22nd, 2009 on 4:23 pm
Great response in replying No to the DM! I enjoy tweeter but hate the day by day annoyances of marketers regarding my use of social media. Sure I point my followers to Rageburner with the hopes of word getting spread but I don’t sell the right for all to provide an opinion. Advertising products on our space is much different than a public chat foroum such as Twitter. I personally am glad tweets are limited to 140 characters. Can you imagine if the message length was extended?