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Tell HN: Twitter switched temporarily to rate limited mode

561 points by 3cats-in-a-coat · 1153 days ago · 716 comments on HN

Article summary

Twitter has temporarily applied rate limits to its users, with verified accounts limited to reading 6000 posts per day, unverified accounts limited to 600 posts per day, and new unverified accounts limited to 300 posts per day. This change is intended to address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation. The limits have been implemented by Elon Musk, who announced the change on Twitter. The rate limits have already started affecting users, with some reporting being unable to access tweets despite not having reached the stated limits.

Main themes

  • Twitter rate limits
  • data scraping and system manipulation
  • monetization and Twitter Blue
  • user experience and infrastructure
  • security and bots
  • Elon Musk's leadership and decision-making

What commenters say

  • The rate limits are too restrictive and will negatively impact the user experience, especially for active users who follow many accounts.
  • The limits are likely intended to encourage users to pay for Twitter Blue, which would allow them to bypass the restrictions.
  • The implementation of the rate limits is flawed and is triggering much sooner than expected, suggesting a technical issue rather than a deliberate attempt to limit usage.
  • The decision to limit verified accounts as well as unverified ones is puzzling and may indicate a deeper issue with Twitter's infrastructure or security.
  • Some users believe that the rate limits are a desperate attempt to monetize Twitter and will ultimately drive users away from the platform.
  • Others think that the limits are a necessary measure to prevent bots and scrapers from abusing the system, but the implementation is poorly designed.
  • The rate limits may be a sign of a larger problem with Twitter's infrastructure, which is struggling to cope with the demands placed on it.
  • The decision to limit users is seen as a misguided attempt to solve a problem that could be addressed through other means, such as improving Twitter's algorithms and security measures.