Twitter has rolled out a new restriction that affects unregistered visitors. People who have not signed in are now blocked from viewing other users’ posts on the platform, according to Border reports.
The change means a user must be logged into Twitter to see a tweet. If not, a sign-in or registration prompt appears and cannot be dismissed, replacing what used to be the only window for age-rated content.
Twitter has not publicly commented on the updated policy. It remains unclear whether the change is intentional or the result of a bug, and there has been no official clarification from the company.
Media outlets note a potential clash with Elon Musk’s stated aim to broaden access to the service for unauthenticated visitors. Skeptics point to a past effort when the firm experimented with a search bug affecting non-logged-in users, a move that initially drew criticism. The issue appeared to be resolved in April 2023 after a noted engineer left the company and maintenance continued internally, according to coverage from The Verge.
Analysts and journalists suggest the tactic could push non-members toward creating an account and potentially subscribing to Twitter Blue to regain full access to content and features, though this interpretation is debated among industry observers.
In related context, a separate incident involved a prominent political figure, Volodymyr Zelensky, who reportedly blocked a parody or fake Twitter profile associated with Elon Musk after an offensive joke circulated on the platform. This instance underscores longstanding tensions around account authenticity, content moderation, and reputational risk on social networks, especially when high-profile figures engage in public discourse on issues of misinformation and safety.
Overall, the evolving access controls on Twitter highlight broader industry dynamics: platforms balancing user experience, monetization strategies, and trust among a global audience that includes the United States and Canada. As tech companies experiment with sign-in requirements and tiered access, observers watch carefully for potential impacts on engagement, advertiser strategies, and the role of verified identities in shaping online conversations. Attribution: industry reporting and company communications compiled by technology newsroom outlets.