Twitter Working to Resolve Verified DM Spam Issue
Since Elon Musk introduced paid verification, Twitter has experienced a decline in various aspects. However, one of the most persistent issues has been the significant increase in spam messages through direct messaging (DM). In response, Twitter has announced a modification aimed at reducing the volume of spam in users’ inboxes.
The company is adding a new setting that will route messages from verified accounts you don’t follow to the “message requests” inbox instead of your primary inbox. The new setting will be automatically applied to anyone whose DMs were previously open to everyone, though they can “go back at any time,” according to Twitter.
This is a significant reversal of Musk’s recent approval of a change that allowed paid Twitter Blue subscribers to direct a message to any user regardless of their next status. But while Musk suggested the change would reduce “AI bots,” it resulted in more DM spam.
Starting as soon as July 14th, we’re adding a new messages setting that should help reduce the number of spam messages in DMs. With the new setting enabled, messages from users who you follow will arrive in your primary inbox, and messages from verified users who you don’t follow…
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) July 13, 2023
In a message announcing the latest change, Twitter’s support account appeared to acknowledge the prevalence of spam messages from verified accounts. “We’re adding a new message setting that should help reduce spam in DMs,” it wrote.
The updated regulation is expected to go into effect on July 14.