Like all web 2.0 social networks. Twitter has its fair share of users whose motives may not be on the up-and-up. Here’s some tips on what I do to limit my exposure to these ne’er-do-wels. Or as I like to call ‘em, Twitter scum.
1.) Spambots: Spambots are easily identifiable. They’re usually obvious-looking “fake people” who are trying to push porn sites, get-rick-quick schemes or other nefarious ‘net institutions. The best defense against these bots is to simply block them and move on.
2.) Human spambots: I couldn’t think of a better term for this class of Twitter scum. Unlike spambot accounts, these are Twitter accounts that are owned and operated by real, live humans. Problem is, all these accounts do is spew out endless, auto-generated links to blog sites, Flickr photos, forum posts and anything else that has an RSS feed. If I’m interested in someone’s content, then I’m probably already subscribed to it. If I’m not, using the human spambot approach won’t get me to. I don’t always block these users, but I never follow them.
3.) Numbers runners: Again, I couldn’t think of a better term for this final, and most vile class of Twitter scum. Numbers runners go on massive follow/unfollow campaigns, in the hopes of artificially boosting their follower counts. While there are plenty of valid reasons to follow/unfollow someone on Twitter, there is no good reason for any Twitter user to add hundreds (if not thousands) of followers in a couple of days, and then immediately unfollow 90% of them. Again, this tactic is used by Twitter scum who want to appear to be super-duper awesome, ’cause you know, they have like 10,000 followers but they’re only following 20 of them back. I figured out a way today to track down potential numbers runners. I clicked the “Following” link on the sidebar of my Twitter homepage. That showed me the list of all of the Twitter users I’m following. Any users listed there that didn’t have the “Direct message” and “nudge” links right under their names are users who aren’t following me back. I could then easily go through the list and weed out any who originally chose to follow me but have since unfollowed.
I understand that Twitter is a dynamic service, populated (mostly) by people. And people can and will change their minds. I don’t care if someone chooses to unfollow me. I do find it annoying when Twitter users try to buck the system by becoming numbers runners. To me, Twitter is best as a conversational tool, and I’m not interested in connecting with people who aren’t there for the conversation. I welcome any and all Twitter users to connect with me through the Twitter ID in the sidebar. But if you’re Twitter scum, don’t expect me to follow you back.
Yeah I recently kicked a lot of people of my twitter list. basically people that followed me and never updated. i also wont follow any one who’s profile isn’t in english, mostly because i don’t see the point.
very instructive. I actually wonder, is it possible that people can join my following list without me selecting them? I swear that has happened before. Or maybe I’m just crazy. I try to keep it around 300 people, and usually I follow people who are being following by my previous twitter friends, so I know who they are talking to and can get the other side of the conversation!
I actually like it, and it’s been good for my band as well.
Thanks for the feedback, Derek. I know Twitter has had some issues lately with follower counts, but I’ve never heard of anyone randomly picking up Twitter followers. I wonder if perhaps some of your Twitter contacts might’ve changed their usernames? Twitter does allow users to change usernames and avatars on the fly. I know some of my contacts have done that, and it did throw me off for awhile.
I think another way they get people to add them back is by association. “Number runners” add people and then they add the people those people are following. You get an email saying you have a new follower, click over and you see they’re following the people you follow. Sometimes it’s an actual person. Lately though, it’s mostly number runners and scum.
I always figure that if the person is truly interested in me they can “@” me and I will see their message in the replies section.
I have been seeing a ton of the third class lately. My least favorite are the ones that follow you and immediately unfollow you. The thought is that you’ll get the follow notification email and just follow them back without noticing that they aren’t following you anymore. Now I just use Twitter Karma to see if people that added me are still following and to check for others that do the same thing, but 2 weeks later.
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