Twitter founder Jack Dorsey is facing a little backlash for downplaying the impact of the Twitter rate limits fiasco.
As previously reported, current Twitter owner Elon Musk has imposed temporary limits on the number of tweets that verified users, unverified users, and new users may read in any given day.
The limits have temporarily been established to allow room for the company “to address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation,” Musk explained in tweets posted Saturday.
Elon Musk rocks Twitter with new rate limits on how many tweets can be read per day https://t.co/6eC9vQRJ9i via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) July 2, 2023
The problem, of course, is that the limits are interfering with Twitter users’ ability to freely use the app without interruption, be it for entertainment, for school, for work, etc.
As a result, there’s been a lot of gnashing of teeth on Twitter, with critics complaining that Musk is ruining the social media network and some critics even vowing to go elsewhere.
It’s amid all this that Dorsey decided to insert himself by posting a tweet Saturday afternoon urging people to step outside and touch grass.
Look:
— jack (@jack) July 1, 2023
The tweet caused some controversy because many people misinterpreted it as him saying “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”
“I’d rather stand on Elon’s real, flawed, weathered grass of freedom, than your fake, hateful, perfect grass of intolerance,” one Twitter user who interpreted this way wrote.
Meanwhile, those who got the reference responded by either crying foul or playing along.
Look:
Bruh delete this
Dont force me to touch grass!— Ding (@DingDaVinci) July 1, 2023
I refuse to touch grass!! We’re not all millionaires like you
— PUNKY™️ (@PUNKYTHESINGER) July 1, 2023
The grass blades are dull. Need to sharpen your mower blades.
— A.M. (@MaydayLife) July 2, 2023
My coworkers use Twitter to track and report on live weather, potentially helping people stay safe during tornado and wildfire season.@jack, @elonmusk, this isn’t just about people needing to touch grass.
— Alex Rochon (@AlexRochonVA) July 1, 2023
like for you to be hella ignorant and tell us to touch grass when twitter has been known to be a top news source. you asshole! twitter was fun but it also created awareness on global news and helped direct people to valuable resources you dick! @jack
— ash (@cheekypinapples) July 1, 2023
You mean this grass? pic.twitter.com/oyXuA4Mr9y
— Noah (@Noahhweb3) July 1, 2023
Because of the confusion Dorsey’s original tweet provoked, he posted again slightly later clarifying what he’d meant.
“Everyone seeing that tweet on mobile touched grass. Was a public service, not a critique,” he tweeted.
He also posted two additional tweets in defense of Musk, who’s been bearing the brunt of the anger from critics.
“Running Twitter is hard. I don’t wish that stress upon anyone. I trust that the team is doing their best under the constraints they have, which are immense. It’s easy to critique the decisions from afar…which I’m guilty of…but I know the goal is to see Twitter thrive. It will,” he tweeted.
“And I do hope they consider building on truly censorship-resistant open protocols like bitcoin and nostr to help ease that burden. Good for all, and critical to preserve the open internet,” he added.
Running Twitter is hard. I don’t wish that stress upon anyone. I trust that the team is doing their best under the constraints they have, which are immense. It’s easy to critique the decisions from afar…which I’m guilty of…but I know the goal is to see Twitter thrive. It will.
— jack (@jack) July 1, 2023
And I do hope they consider building on truly censorship-resistant open protocols like bitcoin and nostr to help ease that burden. Good for all, and critical to preserve the open internet.
— jack (@jack) July 1, 2023
These particular tweets prompted a mostly positive reaction, with Twitter users praising Jack for having Twitter’s back.
“Couldn’t agree more. Everyone has an opinion on how the sausage is made but no one actually understands it. Twitter will be a powerhouse of a platform but there will also be some bumps along the way. I’m having a good time no matter what!” one user tweeted.
“It truly makes me happy hearing you believe in Twitter thriving in the future. I do too,” another added.
What remains unclear is how long the rate limits will stay in effect.
What’s known is that the current limits are 10,000 tweets for verified users, 1,000 tweets for unverified users, and 500 tweets for new users.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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