Twitter (X) temporary label: All you need to know about it
"We've added a temporary label to your account." It sounds like a sentence from a horror movie, right?
Let me tell you the story of me receiving a "temporary label" on Twitter. In other words, facing a real Twitter shadowban through a notification.
I should have seen this coming because recently, many bot accounts started following, and I strongly believe they are the very reason for this temporary label!
I should remove these fake/bot followers immediately when they follow me! If you have bot followers, do not risk your account and start cleaning! If you are not sure, you can check if you have any bots or fake followers on your X account ⬇️
No need to be asking if Twitter shadowban exists anymore. Though the officials of X (which was Twitter back then) told in a 2018 article that they weren't shadowbanning users, things seem to have changed under Elon. So yes, Twitter shadowban has never been more real.
So, what does temporary label mean on Twitter (X)?
The Twitter temporary label basically means that you are shadowbanned on Twitter. Because the term "shadowban" basically means that your reach will be limited. That's exactly what it says in the notification of my temporary label on Twitter.
Here's the proof of me receiving this notification on Twitter: "We've added a temporary label to your account."
Let me put it this way to illustrate how things have changed after the platform's transformation into X:
Did Twitter shadowban?
Looking at their official statement, we could have said "no".
BUT...
Does X shadowban?
Definitely YES, if you do not comply with its rules and policies.
How and why did I get a Twitter (X) temporary label?
Well, at least there is some good news to this story: X actually tells you why you may have received this temporary label. Your reason may, of course, be different, but here's what it told me when I clicked on "learn more" within the notification:
I was basically accused of engaging in platform manipulation. This meant that the platform restricted my content as one of their enforcement options.
I knew that I hadn't been doing anything spammy on X. In fact, I even check my accounts regularly and try to keep them free from fake accounts and bot followers despite the fact that those bots keep following me. Well, that's a whole other story, though.
And, how long do temporary labels last on Twitter (X)?
I absolutely have no idea. And neither does X (formerly Twitter) disclose this information in the notification. However, I've read that it can range from a few hours to several weeks.
I have my fingers crossed, hoping that the platform will again see me as a nice, law-abiding citizen and lift the temporary label on the Twitter accounts that I manage.
However, I have an educated guess that might become a starting point: I believe the reason why I got that label was that I had been managing multiple social media accounts, I mean multiple Twitter accounts in particular.
And as they are logged in from the same device, using the same IP address, and interchanging within short time frames (hey, don't blame me, that's how some of us make a living 🤷♂️), the platform might have labeled it as suspicious activity.
I didn't know how long the effects of this Twitter temporary label would last, but I knew one thing for sure: I shouldn't have been risking the other accounts I was managing, too.
How to remove temporary label on Twitter (X) anyway?
Understanding the "Temporary Label"
This label is Twitter's way of limiting the reach of accounts that they suspect might be engaging in inauthentic behavior. It's often a temporary measure while they assess the account. While you can't directly "remove" the label with a button, cleaning up your account can signal to Twitter that you're a genuine user.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Account:
Phase 1: Identifying and Removing Fake/Bot Followers
Having a large number of fake or bot followers can trigger Twitter's algorithms and lead to a temporary label.
Circleboom offers a safe and fast Twitter Follower Remover. As an official partner of X, you don't need to worry about the safety of your accounts!
You can bulk remove fake and bot followers by following the steps outlined below:
Step #1: Go to the Circleboom Twitter website and log in with your credentials.
If you’re a new user, sign up—it’s quick and easy!
Step #2: On the left-side menu, click on the Followers section. A dropdown menu will appear. Select All My Followers to see the full list of your followers.
If you want to remove specific accounts, such as fake/bot followers or inactive users, you can directly select these categories from the dropdown menu instead of viewing all followers.
Step #3: You will see a complete list of your followers.
Use the Filter Options on the right-hand side to refine your list. You can filter followers based on engagement levels, fake/spam accounts, inactivity, verification status, and more.
Step #4: Browse through your followers and check the boxes next to the users you want to remove.
You can also select multiple users at once. Once you have selected the users, click on the Remove Followers button at the top. Alternatively, you can remove individual followers by clicking the red remove icon next to their name on the right side of the list.
A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure you want to remove the selected followers. Click ''Remove Followers''.
Step #5: Since the removal action is processed via the Circleboom Remove X Followers, you need to install it to complete the process.
Click on Download the Extension and install it from the Chrome Web Store.
Once installed, you can easily remove followers.
Step #6: After installing the extension, Circleboom will automatically add all your removal requests to the extension queue.
Click on the Start button to begin the removal process.
The extension will process your requests and remove the selected followers.
That's it! Your selected followers are now removed automatically.
Analyze Your Followers: Once you've connected a tool (if you choose to), use its features to identify:
- Accounts with no profile picture or default profile pictures.
- Accounts with very few or no followers.
- Accounts with a high following-to-follower ratio (following many more than follow them).
- Accounts with suspicious usernames (e.g., random strings of characters).
- Accounts that haven't tweeted in a long time or have very generic tweets.
Remove Suspicious Followers: Carefully review the identified accounts. If you are confident they are fake or bots, use Twitter's blocking feature to remove them. Blocking prevents them from following you again. For a large number, some tools might offer bulk blocking options (again, use with caution and understand the tool's functionality).
Phase 2: Deleting "Dangerous" or Problematic Tweets
Tweets that violate Twitter's rules or are flagged as spam can also contribute to account issues and temporary labels.
Review Your Recent Tweets: Go through your recent tweets and look for anything that might be considered:
- Spam: Excessive self-promotion, irrelevant links, repetitive content.
- Abusive or hateful content: Tweets targeting individuals or groups with offensive language.
- Misinformation: Spreading false or misleading information, especially on sensitive topics.
- Violations of Twitter's Terms of Service: Review Twitter's rules to ensure your tweets comply.
Identify Older Problematic Tweets: If you've been on Twitter for a while, it's worth reviewing older tweets that might have aged poorly or could now be seen as problematic based on current standards.
Delete Offending Tweets: Once you identify tweets that could be contributing to the issue, delete them. Click the three dots (...) next to the tweet and select "Delete."
If you think you have many "problematic" tweets, you can delete them in bulk with Circleboom!
You have the option to filter your tweets for selective deletion. For instance, you can choose to delete tweets based on the number of likes and retweets, as shown. Or you can find and delete tweets by keywords! Find those tweets with "risky" words for the temporary label. Then, send them to the garbage with one click!
You can also locate and bulk delete tweets by date, keywords, hashtags, and languages. Finding and erasing tweets is incredibly straightforward, isn't it?
Another feature allows you to delete or retain tweets with media, or exclusively remove tweets without media. All these options are at your disposal!
Once you're ready, hit the red "Delete my Tweets" button.
You'll be directed to a confirmation page to ensure you're certain about deleting your tweets.
Remember, once you delete your tweets, there's no turning back. So, be absolutely sure before you proceed with deleting all your tweets!
Phase 3: Reviewing Account Activity and Security
Ensuring your account is secure and your recent activity is genuine can also help.
Check for Suspicious Activity: Review your recent likes, retweets, and follows. Did you engage with anything that looks like spam or automated content? If so, unlike or unfollow those accounts/tweets.
Secure Your Account: Change your password to a strong, unique one. Enable two-factor authentication for added security.
Revoke Access to Suspicious Apps: Review the third-party applications you've granted access to your Twitter account (Settings and privacy > Security and account access > Apps and sessions > Connected apps). Revoke access for any apps you don't recognize or no longer use.
Important Considerations:
- Patience: Removing the temporary label might not be immediate. Twitter's algorithms take time to reassess your account.
- Consistency: Continue to engage authentically and avoid any behavior that could be flagged as spam or inauthentic.
- Contact Support (If Necessary): If the label persists after you've thoroughly cleaned your account and believe it was applied in error, you can try contacting Twitter support to explain your situation. However, be aware that response times can vary.
In summary, while you can't directly click a button to remove a temporary label, proactively cleaning your account by removing fake followers and deleting problematic tweets can help signal to Twitter that you are a genuine user and potentially expedite the removal of the label. Remember to prioritize the security and privacy of your account when using any third-party tools.
Twitter and temporary label: Takeaways from my story!
Name it Twitter shadowban or give it a name and call it "Twitter temporary label". But no matter how you'd like to address this phenomenon, be wary of it and act accordingly before you receive this sad and harsh message.
- Be organic and genuine: Grow your account naturally. Avoid bots / fake accounts.
- Monitor activity: Keep an eye on your tweet frequency and interactions. Some spikes/downs may help you act proactively to restrategize.
- Always be mindful of rules: Familiarize yourself with the rules and policies of X to avoid getting flagged.
- Use the right tools to help you: It's not easy to deal with all these by yourself. Get a companion. Let Circleboom help you.