If you’re not logged into your Twitter account and attempt to view a tweet, you’ll now be greeted with a sign-in screen. Unfortunately, if you prefer not to have an account on the popular social media platform, tough luck!
Twitter has not provided any official comment on this change, and given the platform’s recent hiccups since Elon Musk’s involvement, it could simply be a glitch. However, considering Twitter’s struggle to expand its user base, it’s plausible that this is a tactic to push silent lurkers into creating accounts.
Like many of Twitter’s recent alterations, this move may backfire. If tweets are no longer publicly accessible, search engine algorithms could lower the site’s content ranking, resulting in fewer people being directed to Twitter from platforms like Google. Moreover, it’s undeniably frustrating for users.
Elon Musk, who is no longer the CEO but remains deeply involved in Twitter’s operations, may also be motivated by a desire to prevent AI tools from scraping Twitter data. Musk has previously criticized Microsoft, accusing them of training AI models with Twitter data illegally, stating, “Lawsuit time.”
As newly appointed CEO Linda Yaccarino settles into her role, Twitter continues to face technical glitches. Just this week, a significant number of users received suspension notices for alleged spam activity, leaving many puzzled. Despite our attempts to seek clarification from Twitter, they have not responded. With Musk exerting influence in the C-suite, policies can change rapidly, making anything possible in the future.
