In the umpteenth move to promote its paid subscription program, Twitter Blue, the social network Twitter you have made changes to your direct message (DM) settings, somewhat blocking users who are not subscribers to the service from sending messages.
As it explains mashableUntil now, Twitter users had two options for configuring their DMs: allow messages from all users on the platform, or only allow messages from those they follow. However, a third option has been introduced that restricts direct messages to only verified users and those who are followed.
The implementation of this new setting has generated some controversy, especially on Elon Musk’s account, since any user who pays the $8 monthly subscription for Twitter Blue can now send messages even to him.
Twitter announced this update as a measure to reduce spam in direct messages. With the new setting, messages from followed users will go to the main inbox, while messages from unfollowed verified users will go to the message requests inbox.
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
Measure against spam or pressure for the subscription?
Some users have interpreted this change as an admission by Twitter that even Twitter Blue subscribers can send spam, despite the fact that Musk has promoted this subscription as a way to curb such behavior.
Actually, this new feature is intentionally designed to promote Twitter Blue and encourage users to subscribe. Although the DM message button still appears for all users, when an unfollowed user who is not subscribed to Twitter Blue tries to send a message, they are shown a banner urging them to subscribe.
Twitter DMs had an update. You have to go into settings & adjust your DM status to being open to all people including nonverified, but everyone’s DMs have been switched to only allowing verified users message them.
Meaning we all have to manually switch it back! pic.twitter.com/k1VOXXZTZw
— ChudsOfTikTok (@ChudsOfTikTok) July 15, 2023
Twitter has set this new setting as the default option for all users who previously had their permissions set to allow direct messages from everyone. However, users have the option to change it at any time.
If you want to revert this setting and prevent Twitter from announcing its subscription plan in your account, follow these steps:
- Access the Direct Messages section while you are connected to your Twitter account. On the web, you can find it in the menu as “Messages”. On Twitter’s mobile apps, it displays as an envelope logo in the menu bar.
- On the main inbox page, click the gear logo in the top right corner to access settings.
- The three messaging options that Twitter offers will appear. Select the one that best suits your needs. The “allow messages from verified users only” option is the new promotional option for Twitter Blue.
WTF Twitter.
I started to see little to no DMs: and I keep my DMs open at all times, on purpose.
Twitter SILENTLY changed my (maybe everyone’s?) settings to only allow messages from only people I follow + verified users.
Go to Settings -> Privacy and safety -> DMs to change it pic.twitter.com/41GRzulbw9
— Gergely Orosz (@GergelyOrosz) July 15, 2023
Some users have reported that settings are not always saved correctly. Therefore, after making the changes, it is recommended to exit the DM settings page and return to it to ensure that the changes have been saved correctly.