Twitter has barred its users from interacting with posts that contain links to the email newsletter platform Substack, just a day after Substack announced a new feature called “Notes” that is similar to Twitter. When users on desktop try to retweet or like a post with a Substack link, they are met with a message from Twitter which says: “Some actions on this Tweet have been disabled by Twitter.” On mobile devices, posts with similar links did not work when liked or retweeted. However, it was discovered that tweets with links to Substack newsletters that have different or unique domains or shortened links functioned normally.
The move by Twitter comes amidst concerns about Substack’s lack of content moderation and the growing number of controversial figures using the platform to share their views. Twitter’s decision to limit interactions with Substack links has been interpreted by some as an attempt to distance itself from the platform’s perceived lack of moderation.
Substack, founded in 2017, has become a popular platform for writers and journalists to monetize their content through paid newsletters. The platform has drawn controversy over the past year for featuring writers with controversial views, including figures accused of promoting racism, transphobia, and other forms of hate speech.
The decision by Twitter to restrict interaction with Substack links could be seen as an attempt to address these concerns, though the move has been criticized by some as an infringement on free speech. As of now, it remains unclear whether Twitter’s decision is permanent or temporary.
Here was Substack's announcement about their new Notes thing: https://t.co/sLlagMgRhn
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) April 6, 2023
Substack founders Chris Best, Hamish McKenzie, and Jairaj Sethi have expressed their disappointment over Twitter’s recent move to restrict writers’ ability to share their work. The microblogging site has prevented users from interacting with posts containing links to Substack. In a statement given to NBC News, the Substack founders argued that writers deserve the freedom to share links to Substack or any other platform. They went on to say that this change highlights the importance of a model that rewards great work with money and protects the free press and free speech.
“Their livelihoods should not be tied to platforms where they don’t own their relationship with their audience, and where the rules can change on a whim,” the statement said.
While acknowledging that it posed competition to Twitter, Substack said, “Imagine Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leaving a comment on Margaret Atwood’s note about trends in science fiction, or Alison Roman sharing a quote from an amazing recipe developed by a little-known food writer who then gets a flood of subscriptions.”
Many users have expressed their frustration over Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the matter.
Ahahaha @elonmusk's crew disabled interactions and replies to even this tweet. Amazing. Free speech absolutism babeeee pic.twitter.com/B8namIPYgq
— Jonathan M. Katz writes The Racket on Substack (@KatzOnEarth) April 7, 2023