Five Ways to Succeed on Twitter

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REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
Allum Bokhari

This is the second in a two-part series on how to navigate the confusing set of rules and norms that govern Twitter, a platform that is plummeting to its doom faster than an obese lemming.

Twitter has failed to provide users with a clear guide on how to avoid facing censure on the network and refuses to comment publicly about specific instances of punishment. Users on Twitter aren’t given a chance to appeal their punishments or defend themselves.

In the first installment of this series, I gave users an easy guide on what behaviours to avoid on the platform.  The full list, which can be read here, includes: exposing pedophiles, using metaphors, and tweeting while conservative.

In the second part of the series, I’m going to look at some of the behaviours that don’t meet with punishment on Twitter. Looking at the list, it’s hard to see how some of the users involved haven’t been permabanned. Maybe it has something to do with their politics? Take a look and decide for yourself.

Call for violence against individuals

https://twitter.com/can4drian/status/662751076148314113

https://twitter.com/_benfox_/status/691382927905722368

https://twitter.com/femalebridge/status/675947364004331520

If Twitter’s rules were followed, these accounts would all be banned under the platform’s clear policies against abuse, harassment, and threats of violence. Maybe they only mean metaphorical threats of violence?

Call for violence against groups

https://twitter.com/OVOBlTCH/status/680505062750339072

https://twitter.com/YoPushaBodie/status/660221708255830016

https://twitter.com/hp_efg/status/691260015013937152

From Twitter’s rules: “Users … may not make threats or promote violence against a person or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, or disability.”

Clearly, they only mean threats of violence against some genders and ethnicities. It’s a good thing Breitbart Tech is here to clarify matters, or Twitter users would be hopelessly confused.

Expose private information

Once again Twitter’s rules are clear that exposing private information is not allowed under any circumstances. From the rules: “You may not publish or post other people’s private and confidential information, such as credit card numbers, street address, or Social Security/National Identity numbers, without their express authorization and permission.”

However, the savvy Twitter user can dodge this rule. All they need to do is support Black Lives Matter and also be a progressive politician. It certainly worked for Alondra Cano, a Minneapolis city councillor who revealed the personal names and adresses of constituents after they complained about her participation in a disruptive Black Lives Matter protest.

Insult people

https://twitter.com/Cristihan_4/status/691879073837158401

Given that Adam Baldwin was suspended for insulting people by implication, it would be odd if Twitter did nothing about these accounts. Then again, Adam Baldwin is a conservative.

Support terrorism

https://twitter.com/Gndq121Yemney/status/691647268634660865

Twitter doesn’t seem to be that bothered about terrorists using its platform. As we’ve previously reported, it took concerted efforts by online vigilantes to make a serious impact against the Islamic State’s Twitter presence, which comprises a vital element in their recruitment and propaganda drives. The Brookings Institue estimates that ISIS can rely on over 40,000 supportive accounts on the platform. In fact, there are so many terrorist-supporting accounts on Twitter that they’re even fighting with each other. Vocative recently reported that ISIS-supporting accounts were getting into spats with the Taliban on Twitter. Someone should check if they’re being politically correct. If ISIS have been giving the Taliban PTSD, they’ll be in serious trouble.

Follow Allum Bokhari @LibertarianBlue on Twitter, and download Milo Alert! for Android to be kept up to date on his latest articles.

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