Stop the Robots With @endautodms
I am brainstorming daily new ways to enable our users to get rid of the spammy behavior on Twitter and focus on what Twitter is about – communication. Because of this, we killed the service. As we mentioned earlier, we have taken a 180 and have decided auto-DMs have gotten out of control. If you’re a SocialToo user and this is the first you’re hearing of this I encourage you to check out that article and see why we’re doing it. Now our entire focus is on making Twitter less spammy, more secure, and a nicer place to communicate and network with others.
Starting today, we’re launching a new, completely public Twitter user, sponsored by SocialToo, which you can notify of auto-DMs or spammy behavior on Twitter. If you notice someone sending auto-dms to you, or are just plain spammy or robotic, send their username to @endautodms (note the “s”). The format of the Tweet should be like this (most importantly, it should include “@” followed by the screen name of the spammer):
@endautodms @spammyspammy is showing robot-like behavior
You can just inlcude the screen name, or the reason they’re being spammy. Our combination of human and automated review of these (a human will always play a part) will verify they are spammy, and @endautodms will follow them. Everyone @endautodms follows is deemed a spammer by our review process.
Anyone can use this list for their own apps if you like, but on SocialToo over the coming days we’ll be working to incorporate new ways to allow users to choose not to auto-follow the users that @endautodms follows. In addition, we’ll probably also provide a whitelist, finally enabling users to actually “opt-in” to receiving dms from specific users.
If you find your name on “the list”, please DM @endautodms with your intentions to stop or explanation (we won’t be convinced that auto-dms are good, so don’t even try), and we’ll remove you from “the list”. However, 3 strikes and you’re out. If we continue to get recommendations after you say you’ve stopped the 3rd strike guarantees permanent placement on “the list”.
Here’s to a much cleaner SocialSphere. Let’s do what we can to #endautodm!
Tags: #endautodm, bots, robots, spam, twitter
I agree that auto-DMs have been abused by many, perhaps even the majority. However, I am completely disappointed that we are now feeling the need to police Twitter behavior. It is still much too early in its evolution for us to be doing that.
There are MANY of us — perhaps even a silent majority — who are just fine with auto-DMs. Or perhaps more appropriately, we take their abuse for self-promotional purposes as an individual issue — blame the person, not the tool.
Remember the saying, “Guns don't kill, people do?”
Well, auto-DMs don't spam, people do.
Ending auto-DMs doesn't end spammy behavior, and it punishes people who are simply making a choice to use a tool.
Let the free market decide. #NoTwitterCops
And frankly, the real solution to the problem is simple: have Twitter implement an auto-DM opt-out. People who don't like them can opt out one time and then forget about it, and stop wagging their fingers at the rest of us who aren't bothered by them or even want to use them.
For now, I've opted out because I don't want to be part of this witch-hunt. When everyone decides they have better things to do with their time and energy than tell me how I can or can't use Twitter, I'll consider using auto-DMs again. Why? Because for me they worked. They increased engagement, i.e., @ messages from new followers, by more than 200%. Most people couldn't tell it was an auto-DM, and even among those who did, I had DOZENS of positive responses vs. 2 negative reactions. That's a win in my book.
So please stop this self-righteous witch hunt. It's bullying, plain and simple. Let each person decide for themselves whether the practice works or doesn't, whether it's in line with their own ethics or not.
#NoTwitterCops
Comment by ScottAllen — March 5, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
We are letting users decide. Now instead of marketers making the decision
for the average user, we're letting the user make the decision on their own.
It's now OPT-IN, instead of OPT-OUT. That's how it should be. Oh, and
people can do with this list as they like. I'm not forcing anyone to do
anything.
Comment by jessestay — March 5, 2009 @ 6:25 pm
Sorry – still FAIL. This is just begging for abuse. That's exactly why http://TwitterBlacklist.com closed. People were trying to define “acceptable” Twitter behavior based on following/follower ratios.
What I find incredibly ironic and just a little disgusting is the fact that some of the very people who were up in arms about Twitter Blacklist are now some of the ones most vocally criticizing auto-DMs. It was bad when a blacklist service was trying to stop the way THEY wanted to use Twitter, but when it's consistent with their own behavior, a blacklist is OK??? Bullshit. Hypocritical.
Either we believe in Twitter freedom or we don't. If this witch-hunt is allowed to continue, what next? When will a vocal minority start a movement that bullies YOU to stop using Twitter the way you want to?
This is a slippery, slippery slope and needs to be recognized as such.
#NoTwitterCops
Comment by ScottAllen — March 5, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
There is an overall consumer sentiment against automation, templating and commodifying any form of social media.
And the consumer is the highest life form on the planet.
Social media is about relationships, transparency and conversation.
Let the conversation continue.
Comment by Steven Stearns — March 5, 2009 @ 6:47 pm
I am not sure but how is this an issue that needs the DM Police?
I mean. You can not DM someone that is not following you. So if you have someone sending you annoying DM's you can opt out an unfollow that person.
People are motivated to change their behavior by their followers. I am no exceptio. People voiced their issue about my public @'s that prompted me to make a change since i care about my micro community.
So opt out by unfollowing annoying people and spammers.
Just my two cents.
Comment by Dave Mora — March 6, 2009 @ 11:10 am
Responded on Twitter:
http://tinyurl.com/c6kx9j & http://tinyurl.com/dmmd3p
I looked at the 4 that @endautodms is currently following and they don't look spammy at all. So what is the listing based on? One complaint, two? How do you know/validate that they are “excessively” auto-DM'ing?
If I follow someone and get an auto-DM saying “thanx” I pretty much ignore. If there's someone that gets so annoyed at this that they “complain” via this service, then we are all at the mercy of the most anal among us… Saying there's a human check is not good enough, what are your criteria? How would you even know how much these folks are auto-DM'ing? What's next, listing folks who send hundreds of twitters “automatically” via FF?
Comment by Tosk59 — March 6, 2009 @ 11:54 am
Tosk, @endautodms follows anyone it can prove auto-dms. Period. If you
define that as spammy, then they're spammy. Otherwise it's just a list of
people that auto-dm.
Comment by jessestay — March 6, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
Rather confusing… Your article says (above): “If you notice someone sending auto-dms to you, or are just plain spammy or robotic, send their username to @endautodms (note the “s”)”
So it looked like you would list (and potentially result in the person being “blocked” by folks that follow your lead) folks who auto-DM'd or were “spammy” I reacted to this…
OK, so you've clarified and now say that you will list anyone proven to auto-DM. Fine, this may prove of use to people who want to follow your lead. I will *not* be among this group. Refusing to follow or blocking someone who has a “thanx for following me” auto-DM but otherwise has great tweets is foolish, someone like this a lot better than people who don't auto-DM but spew forth nonsense… (of which there are many)
Comment by Tosk59 — March 6, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!
Thank you.
FYI: You will be getting some from me starting…..now.
Comment by Jen Harris — March 6, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
The follow button on Twitter, sadly, needs a CAPTCHA.
Comment by AndreasBrekken — March 29, 2009 @ 5:05 am
In my opinion, robotic-spams are to be best countered by robotic-measures. If only someone would come up with something ideal for the job.
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Comment by Sweet_Home_Improvement — August 22, 2009 @ 7:15 am