Twitter, a popular social media platform, has once again found itself at the center of criticism and controversy. Recently, a Twitter user expressed bewilderment over being banned from the platform due to seemingly harmless photos of his Pokemon game collection. This incident is just one among many that have sparked user discontent since Elon Musk’s comprehensive Twitter revamp earlier this year.
Recent Twitter criticism and controversies
Twitter has faced public backlash for various reasons since its ownership change in late 2022. One major point of contention was the introduction of the Twitter Blue subscription service. However, this was not the platform’s only controversial move. In February, Twitter received criticism for removing an important security feature, which further fueled accusations of censorship by public figures.
The story of Twitter user cantdie_
The latest unfavorable incident involving Twitter revolves around a user named cantdie_. He claims that sharing pictures of his collection of Pokemon games resulted in a 12-hour ban for “promoting self-harm,” according to his firsthand account. The photos, which showcased Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and classic Pokemon RPGs, were posted in response to a user who expressed excitement about such gaming history. It is possible that the ban was a mistake by Twitter’s automated systems, which aim to combat genuinely disturbing images shared with malicious intent.
Potential causes of the ban
It is worth considering two potential causes for this erroneous ban. Firstly, the mistake may have originated from a bug that predates Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform. Secondly, Twitter has increasingly relied on content scanners to police harmful speech on the service. However, even with advancements in AI-powered natural language processing technologies, these solutions often fall short in capturing the nuance of human reviews, which are more resource-intensive. Notably, Elon Musk downsized the Twitter PR team and made it difficult to reach the company for clarifying comments by setting the press contact email to auto-respond with a scat emoji.
press@twitter.com now auto responds with 💩
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 19, 2023
Lack of clarification from Twitter
With the downsizing of the Twitter PR team and the unresponsive nature of the company, obtaining clarifying comments or explanations becomes challenging. Users and affected individuals are left without a direct channel to address their concerns, exacerbating the frustration caused by incidents like the ban on harmless Pokemon game photos.
Uncertain future for Twitter
As Elon Musk stepped down as Twitter CEO and appointed a replacement, there is hope among users that positive changes are on the horizon. The future trajectory of the platform remains uncertain, and only time will tell if it can overcome its troubled streak and regain user trust.
