Twitter, once a popular and widely-used social media platform, has been experiencing a decline in usefulness and user-friendliness. In its most recent misstep, the company has made tweets inaccessible to users who are not signed in to the platform. Previously, even logged-out users could view tweets and user profiles, but this feature has now been restricted, forcing non-users to either create an account or enter their login details to access the content.
The motive behind this decision is still unclear, as Twitter has neither confirmed whether it was a technical error nor an intentional move. However, it is worth noting that Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, has significantly reduced the company’s communications team shortly after taking over. This raises questions regarding whether this move was part of a deliberate strategy or simply an unintended consequence.
The inability of logged-out users to use Twitter’s search function is another consequence of these changes. This restriction could potentially disrupt the integration of tweets into search results on platforms like Google. Furthermore, services that rely on scraping data from public platforms like Twitter may face obstacles as a result of these limitations.
Limiting access to tweets to signed-in users may not necessarily lead to an increase in the number of account registrations. Instead, individuals who wish to share tweets with non-Twitter users may resort to sending screenshots rather than links, thereby reducing the likelihood of non-users joining the platform.
Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter, studies have shown that the majority of US adults are spending less time on the platform. This decline in user engagement raises concerns, particularly for Twitter’s advertising revenue, which has reportedly dropped by 59% since the previous year. By creating barriers between potential users and the content they seek, Twitter may be hindering its own efforts to attract more users and generate ad revenue.
In conclusion, Twitter’s recent decision to limit access to tweets and profiles for non-registered users is seen as a setback for the platform. Whether this change was intentional or accidental remains uncertain. However, as studies indicate a decline in user engagement and advertising revenue, it is surprising that Twitter would impose restrictions that could potentially discourage new users from joining the platform. It remains to be seen how this decision will affect the future of Twitter and its ability to compete in the ever-evolving landscape of social media.