HeatherO

Spaminating Twitter Spam

HeatherO on 11 2, 2009

We all agree on one thing in life…We all HATE spam!
Interestingly though, it still exists! Why?
Because even people who hate spam, spam! Perhaps they were ‘absent’ the day that “The Golden Rule” was taught, or perhaps they just don’t really know what it is (I find that many refer to the ‘ can-spam act‘ which doesn’t even begin to cover what it is in my opinion!)
I personally prefer my definition (yep, I’m biased:) which you can read here.

In any case, twitter is not an island, not one free from spam anyway! In fact, the sheer plethora of spam alone should at least convince those who are ‘skeptical’ of twitter’s value, that there is merit!

I recently read a post lamenting the ‘impending’ spam attacks with regard to lists. He post a screenshot of some floozy on a list… Anyhow, there were multiple comments about how twitter has done nothing to stop spam, they should do more, blah, blah, blah.

I disagree. First of all, there is a big fat “block and report spam” button. Second of all, we each have the ability to NOT follow or UNfollow anyone that we want! Talk about democracy!

I recently received “proof” in my email (ironically it in and of itself would qualify as spam in my opinion!) that Twitter is in fact attempting to terminate, or “spaminate’ spammers!

Here is the email (in part):

I personally have become “afraid” of:
- What I tweet about (include an affiliate link and you’re sure to be reported as a spammer)
- How many I follow per day
- How many I unfollow per day
- … and the list goes on.

I personally manage over 50 twitter accounts (but *please* don’t report me, because I’m afraid of THAT TOO!). Twitter has become my #1 marketing tool/resource, and I for one don’t want to be shut down based on an IRS-like ruler.

The email goes on to say that he is going to use some other microblogging site that isn’t ‘like this’, and that ‘you should too’. Ha! Why would I do that? Can you say ‘spamfest’? No thanks!

Funny thing is, think about what that would ‘look like’! If the whole site filled up with spammers (who by definition are only there to push their own product or service) who will be there to listen? to buy? hmmm…

In any case, Kudos to Twitter! My friend @PatHowlett says “you should ‘repel’ some people…those that you were not meant to serve”…I hope twitter continues to repel the spammers!