By Nathan Hangen, follow him @nhangen.
As I’ve been following people on Twitter, I’ve noticed an interesting trend. More and more people are starting to use a validation service to create a gateway between themselves and new followers. On the surface, this looks like a great idea, but I’ve come to realize that it might not be – here’s why:
It takes a lot of time to validate every single message you receive – Although I don’t mind filling out a captcha every now and then, filling them out by the dozens negates what could be a positive experience. I’ve grown accustomed to ignoring these messages and as a result, I never get to communicate with the people on the other side.- It can be confusing – Some people, particularly those new to Twitter, might not understand what Twit validation is or why it exists. Placing barriers in the way of communication is essentially the same thing as locking your Tweets, which is another behavior that I find troubling. What is the point of joining a network if you don’t want to communicate?
- Rather than taking your time to filter your feed, you are placing the onus on those interested in following you. Sure, I can ignore the request for validation, but in the end I’ll end up talking to myself. Although there are a select few I follow without a follow back, I don’t like to make a habit of it. Not because I’m a jerk, but because it shows good faith. If you aren’t interested in what I have to say, then we are going to have a hard time communicating.
We can blame the spammers for this, but they don’t care if they ruin the experience. Still, why should we let them change the way that we communicate online? Eventually, Twitter will find a way to weed out messages in the same way that Gmail does, but in the meantime, consider removing the validation from your account and taking the time to filter on your own. If you don’t want to communicate with the masses, then maybe a valdiation service will work for you. However, if your business or brand relies on open communication, then you should think twice about placing roadblocks in between you and your customer.
If you are truly concerned about a cluttered or spam filled Twitterfeed, then consider using groups via TweetDeck or Seesmic. If there are only certain Tweeters that you pay attention to, you can also import their stream via RSS to be sure you don’t miss a thing. Lastly, it only takes 5 seconds to block or unfollow someone, but it takes nearly 20-30 for me to validate my profile for you. Multiply that by a dozen or two and you’ll see why most people don’t have the time to make it worthwhile.
The concept is noteworthy, but the execution leaves something to be desired for. One of the reasons that I love Twitter is that it opens the doors to communication. The problem with validation is that it closes them. What do you think?
[image: Unhindered by Talent]
@wpdude
I was asked to validate myself by someone following me this morning, and it insensed me, I cannot explain why I was so annoyed.
Why should I spend my time and validate myself as a none bot, before you can be bothered to interact with me?
I suggesst people think long and hard before they send out validation requets to people it may cause a backlash
@PattyHankins
I’ve gotten a few validation requests for people I wanted to follow. Quite simply – I won’t do it.
If someone is concerned about me following them or that I’m a bot or a spammer – they can take a look at my twitterfeed and they can see what I tweet about.
@tweeminence
If you’re using twitter the way you should (without the use of auto services) then you shouldn’t have any issue with this in the first place…annoying.
@tanyabirch
I still don’t understand the purpose or the function of the validation tool. It just seems so un-twitter! It is definitely annoying when I get half a dozen of validation requests. Sometimes it is just easier to give up on the person than to site there and enter the codes. And that’s a shame, because I am really trying to get out positive messages to people.
MAny would argue that twitter had started out as a personal tool and then the marketers came and used it. But I truely feel that the nature of twitter (the medium is the message) is more of a networking, even business like.
@nhangen
So happy to hear I’m not the only one…I honestly expected a different reaction.
The validation tool gets me fired up too…I’m hoping that it is only a phase.
@robertbravery
Hey Nathan,
Can you believe it, I just asked this question the other day. Never did get an answer. But now I have a good one.
Perhaps my tweet was an inspiration to you.
Anyway, I came across this just recently, registered, but then held off a bit. My thoughts were exactly what you have written down. It could prove to be more trouble than it’s worth.
@tyleringram
I noticed this recently. I was showing my girlfriend Twitter and we created an account. One of the people that went to follow her and she recipicated the follow had sent her a DM with a Twitter validation link.
We thought this was weird, and personally I thought it was a bit of a pain. I had to explain to my girlfriend why this person wanted to validate her as a “real” person and then the captcha that was being used was hard to read. We had to refresh the captcha until we could read it so we could enter it. I also had to explain what a captcha was and why this person wanted to use it.
Figuring out spam accounts on Twitter is easy, well for at least me. If the person (or tweeter) has a larger number of people they are following but they are not being followed by an amount close to it, chances are they are spam. Look at what they tweet, are they tweeting the same thing over and over again? Are they not engaging in the conversation, I mean, are they replying to other people in their feed?
So if JohnDoe is following 1200 people but only 5-10 people are following them, chances are, they are a spam account. Just don’t follow them, and you won’t ever see their spam messages!
Think I am just ranting now… lol
@britishtwitnews
Well done Nathan I think your right the temptation to join a Twitter validation is a natural progression that can easily be classed as a step down form wanting to interact, however there is so much spam and when adding new followers sieving through dating photo invites and rummaging around mouldy teeth is quite of putting.
The Twitter validation is automatic and only takes a few minutes to register and verify, however I have not noticed any apparent reasons how this helps with Twitter validity. For example the hash tag facility that stopped working for one of my Twitter accounts did not work having verified through this type of action, which leads me to conclude although it may be weaning out the spam and as you have rightly pointed out aggravate new friends it does not even serve any purpose.
Still it’s automated, free and well I’m not to sure how to opt out yet and the validation process in essence s a groovy idea. Great post and well done, good blog, good blog.
@Kim_Lou
Had this happen for the first time yesterday. Thought it was strange. Initially annoyed me, then considered doing it myself for about … oh, 10 seconds. Changed my mind after re-evaluating exactly why I’m out here on Twitter … defeats the purpose. Not for me either, thanks. Good post!
@freemanlegacy
I haven’t encountered the validation tool yet, but if it causes a problem for me then I will just start to unfollow those that require it.
@phylliskhare
wait wait wait
from what I understand – you guys are talking about TrueTwit – right? Once you have an account with them you don’t have to validate anymore requests – you are considered “human” and then you don’t have to go thru that process anymore. I started using it because of the amount of spammers that twitter was still letting in. I actually like the service if used as designed. If you complete the loop on this one it will solve a bunch of problems.
@PandorazBox80
I hate Captchas with a passion. I didn’t even know they had infested Twitter, too. The day I encounter a Captcha on Twitter is the day I go on a 10-Tweet rant right before deleting my account.
@KseniaCoffman
I came across a mention of such as service on someone’s tweet, and I thought it would be odd. It does seem so ‘un-twitter.’ If you don’t have time to check out my profile and twitter stream, perhaps I shouldn’t be following you in the first place. If I were to get a validation requests, I would ignore it.
@Davidbeking
I would say that validation is a good thing…
Otherwise spammers and software programs will spam as much as they can.
Twitter is a place to connect with people and build relationships… that’s what social media is.
It’s not a place to show everyone your latest and greatest product or service!
Thanks for the great post!
David
@Gordie_Rogers
I also haven’t encountered the validation tool yet. It’s just another area where spammers are ruining the Internet. However, I agree that it’s not hard to look at someone’s feed to work out whether an account is a spam bot or not.
@sunremuservices
I take the time to know people and do this manually. The idea that spammers don’t care if they ruin the experience is spot on, been that way from the very beginning. The last thing I want is for somebody to unfollow me because I’m irritating.
@airabongco
The issue here is not how irritating it is to new users but why is this happening? I am looking over Twitter and I noticed a slight increase in overtweeting of links compared last year. The conversations come rarely now. A lot of people join Twitter just to blast their links to the public.
@mikecj
Totally agree with you Nathan, I’ve come across these a few times, and have simply moved on. I don’t have the time – sorry!
@Andy_Kovacs
Agreed about validation, I find it annoying too and generally don’t bother. As you rightly say, it’s the easiest thing in the world to block or unfollow someone.
About people who lock their Tweets, this can be a common practice for people who want to use Twitter as a fast, closed group communication tool; I know HSBC employees use it like this. However, from my experience it’s usually people new to Twitter who’re a bit frightened of popping their Tweet-cherry.
Nice post!
@frontofficebox
Well said.
I’ve been ignoring the validation requests but mostly because recently Twitter has become less interesting and more annoying. I just can’t be bothered to sort through all the rubbish to find real people communicating.
Luckily it seems Twitter has decided to take on responsibility for cleaning up the service- according to a post by Mashable today.
That will make me, and I imagine a lot of other people, happy and bring me back to Twitter.
@technomania
Very well said Darren,
Recently I followed someone because I liked what he was tweeting. In response I got a DM saying that he is using some validation service which will authenticate if I am a Spammer.
Result: I just unfollowed that person.
Why in the world I would authenticate myself to some 3rd party to follow one person? If he/she can’t see himself if I am a Spammer, I don’t want to see what he is tweeting. No matter how interesting his profile is.
Instead of using 3rd party service, he could visit my profile and check.
In fact, if you (Darren) being a very famous personality use that kind of service, I might authenticate but the question is why should I????
You don’t personally know most of the people you follow on twitter anyway. So why use any validation service. If I don’t like someone and feel it is a spammer, I just UNFOLLOW or at the max block it.
That’s my take on this validation service people use.
@stevelevine1
Excellent post and conversation. Once I find the DM making the validation request, which BTW is AUTOMATED, I unfollow the user. An automated request to be authenticated is not very authentic in my mind. Perhaps this is why many of you mention being irritated?!?!?!
@iostar
I use truetwit.com! It allows me to prevent spams. I know that for those who want to follow me will be discouraged by completing the form received by mail. BUT it really helps me to test if some one is interested or not interested in following me! I don`t want to be followed by bots or pornography.
@nhangen
iostar – that’s exactly what I mean. It might prevent spam, but then you are forcing someone to take an extra step if they want to follow you. I’m a believer that instead of making it difficult, you should make it harder. It really doesn’t matter who follows you, does it?
@iostar
I really care about who is following me, but I don`t want to be followed by porn or another uninterested persons… It is like you need to fill the captcha on a site for registration, or comment.
I noticed that not everyone who tried to be my follower answered to the mail sended by truetwit. So, this is an disadvantage, but not so big than porn!
@THEREALPREE
I concur with this article. The point of social media is to be social. Everyone has something they’ll like to share with the world the same way an Artist displays his painting in a Gallery. Validating tweets is like hand picking the spectators that you want to let in your Art Gallery. Exactly what sense would that make. Good job Nathan