Elon Musk, owner of Twitter, has faced criticism after announcing temporary limits on the number of posts users can view on the social media platform. The decision was made to address concerns about data scraping and system manipulation. However, the move has sparked backlash from users who experienced restricted access to posts. Musk later adjusted the limits in response to the intense criticism.

Twitter Limits Post Viewing for Users

In a recent announcement, Elon Musk revealed that Twitter would be imposing temporary limits on the number of posts users can view. Verified accounts with premium subscriptions can read up to 6,000 posts per day, while unverified accounts are limited to 600 posts for existing users and 300 for new users.

Addressing Data Scraping and System Manipulation

Musk stated that the decision to limit post viewing was aimed at addressing the issue of “extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation” on the platform. This move reflects Twitter’s effort to combat the growing popularity of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, which rely on scraped data to power their models.

Backlash and Revised Limits

Following intense criticism from users, Elon Musk revised the initial limits. Verified accounts can now view up to 10,000 posts per day, while unverified accounts are limited to either 1,000 or 500 posts, depending on whether they are existing or new users. The adjustment aims to address user concerns and mitigate the negative impact of the initial restrictions.

Charging for Data Access and Financial Stability

Elon Musk has been exploring various strategies to boost Twitter’s revenues and ensure its financial stability. This includes charging third parties for access to Twitter’s data. By monetizing data access, Musk aims to improve the company’s financial standing, as he previously warned of potential bankruptcy if finances did not improve.

User Reactions and Former Executives’ Criticism

The announcement of post viewing limits triggered swift reactions from users, with many encountering error messages stating “rate limit exceeded” and being blocked from accessing further posts. Thousands of users reported issues with the platform, leading to trending discussions on Twitter. Some former Twitter executives, including Esther Crawford, criticized Musk’s decision, highlighting the importance of customer empathy and data-driven decision-making.

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Note: The limits have been adjusted to address user backlash and accommodate user feedback.