Substack is a popular platform for writers to create and distribute newsletters. Recently, Twitter implemented new restrictions on promoting tweets with links from Substack. This move has prompted a response from Substack’s founders, who expressed their concerns about writers’ livelihoods being tied to platforms where they don’t have ownership of their relationship with their audience and where rules can change unexpectedly.
In an interview with The Verge, Substack’s founders emphasized the importance of writers having control over their content and the ability to build direct relationships with their audience. They believe that the current situation highlights the need for writers to have more control over their distribution channels and not rely on social media platforms like Twitter.
The timing of this change is suspicious, as it occurred shortly after Substack announced their Twitter-like “Notes” product. Twitter users have noticed that they cannot interact with tweets containing Substack links, including liking, replying to, or retweeting. Twitter has yet to explain this change, leaving Substack users confused and frustrated.
Substack users are concerned about a few things
This is not the first time Twitter has restricted links from rival platforms. In December, Twitter abruptly banned all links to Instagram, Mastodon, and other competitors, before reversing this decision. Twitter has also recently started charging developers to use its API, causing difficulties for some Twitter apps and bots.
Substack users are concerned about their ability to reach their audience and make a living from their writing. They believe that social media platforms like Twitter should not have the power to control their distribution channels and that writers need more control over their content and relationships with their audience.
The timing of the change has raised suspicions, as it occurred shortly after Substack announced their new Twitter-like “Notes” feature. Twitter users have reported that they cannot interact with some tweets containing Substack links. The platform still needs to provided this change, leaving Substack users confused and concerned about their ability to reach their audience.
It is still being determined whether this change was intentional or a technical glitch. However, this is not the first time Twitter has imposed restrictions on links from rival platforms. In the past, Twitter has abruptly banned all links to competitors, such as Instagram and Mastodon, before reversing their decision soon after. Twitter has also recently started charging developers to use its API, which has caused difficulties for some Twitter apps and bots.
Check out what founder Chris Best statedÂ
Twitter has a history of putting restrictions on links from competing platforms. In December, the company banned all links to Instagram, Mastodon, and other competitors before reversing the decision soon after. Twitter has also started charging developers to use its API, which has caused issues for some Twitter apps and bots.
The founders of Substack, Chris Best, Hamish McKenzie, and Jairaj Sethi, have released a statement regarding the recent restrictions on Substack links on Twitter. Check out the statement below;
“We’re disappointed that Twitter has chosen to restrict writers’ ability to share their work. Writers deserve the freedom to share links to Substack or anywhere else. This abrupt change is a reminder of why writers deserve a model that puts them in charge, that rewards great work with money, and that 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.”
