4 ms·

It was previously a Twitter norm that you could temporarily change your display name to “impersonate” (satirize) someone, with your handle being the giveaway th

It was previously a Twitter norm that you could temporarily change your display name to “impersonate” (satirize) someone, with your handle being the giveaway that it’s not real. This norm seems to have been summarily overturned. I thought that Twitter was going to keep the status quo with moderation and make changes through a moderation council with diverse viewpoints.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
benmmurphy 4y ago
I thought this was verboten for blue checks because it kind of defeats the purpose of verification. It says on the blue check page that parody accounts are not eligible for verification. Though, it does not say explicitly that parodying using an existing verified account will lead to suspension. https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/about-twitter-verified-accounts https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/about-twit...
theonething 4y ago
> It was previously a Twitter norm that you could temporarily change your display name to “impersonate” (satirize) someone, with your handle being the giveaway that it’s not real. Here is the policy archived from January of this year. https://web.archive.org/web/20220108193314/https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/parody-account-policy https://web.archive.org/web/20220108193314/https://help.twit... > The account name (note: this is separate from the username, or @handle) should clearly indicate that the user is not affiliated with the subject of the account. Non-affiliation can be indicated by incorporating, for example, words such as (but not limited to) "parody," "fake," "fan," or "commentary.” Non-affiliation should be stated in a way that can be understood by the intended audience. So the requirement goes beyond your handle, it must be clearly indicated in your display name that it is a parody. Kathy did not do that. She changed it to just "Elon Musk". So Musk is enforcing a policy that existed way before this takeover.
- kweingar 4y ago
  This rule was rarely (if ever) enforced when people would change their account name temporarily as a one-off joke. Also from the page you linked: > When we receive a valid impersonation or trademark report about an account that is not in compliance with our Policy, we may give the account owner the opportunity to bring their account into compliance and we may temporarily suspend the account. Accounts with a history of repeated violations may be permanently suspended. Musk’s decree is clearly a break from previous policy.
  - theonething 4y ago
    > Musk’s decree is clearly a break from previous policy. The policy's wording gives leeway for Twitter to enforce it in different ways. I wouldn't say that this case is a break from previous policy. He's may be changing the way it was being enforced previously while still remaining in policy. That's all to say he hasn't changed previous policy, he has changed enforcement of it. If people think that's a jerk move, fine. I don't think so. Breaking the rules is breaking the rules whether enforced or not. If he actually changed previous policy (i.e. changed wording/meaning/essence) or went outside the policy to punish Kathy, then I would agree that would be a jerk move.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

benmmurphy 4y ago

I thought this was verboten for blue checks because it kind of defeats the purpose of verification. It says on the blue check page that parody accounts are not eligible for verification. Though, it does not say explicitly that parodying using an existing verified account will lead to suspension. https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/about-twitter-verified-accounts https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/about-twit...

theonething 4y ago

> It was previously a Twitter norm that you could temporarily change your display name to “impersonate” (satirize) someone, with your handle being the giveaway that it’s not real. Here is the policy archived from January of this year. https://web.archive.org/web/20220108193314/https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/parody-account-policy https://web.archive.org/web/20220108193314/https://help.twit... > The account name (note: this is separate from the username, or @handle) should clearly indicate that the user is not affiliated with the subject of the account. Non-affiliation can be indicated by incorporating, for example, words such as (but not limited to) "parody," "fake," "fan," or "commentary.” Non-affiliation should be stated in a way that can be understood by the intended audience. So the requirement goes beyond your handle, it must be clearly indicated in your display name that it is a parody. Kathy did not do that. She changed it to just "Elon Musk". So Musk is enforcing a policy that existed way before this takeover.

kweingar 4y ago
This rule was rarely (if ever) enforced when people would change their account name temporarily as a one-off joke. Also from the page you linked: > When we receive a valid impersonation or trademark report about an account that is not in compliance with our Policy, we may give the account owner the opportunity to bring their account into compliance and we may temporarily suspend the account. Accounts with a history of repeated violations may be permanently suspended. Musk’s decree is clearly a break from previous policy.
- theonething 4y ago
  > Musk’s decree is clearly a break from previous policy. The policy's wording gives leeway for Twitter to enforce it in different ways. I wouldn't say that this case is a break from previous policy. He's may be changing the way it was being enforced previously while still remaining in policy. That's all to say he hasn't changed previous policy, he has changed enforcement of it. If people think that's a jerk move, fine. I don't think so. Breaking the rules is breaking the rules whether enforced or not. If he actually changed previous policy (i.e. changed wording/meaning/essence) or went outside the policy to punish Kathy, then I would agree that would be a jerk move.