May 23rd, 2010

Twitter Direct Messages is a Waste of Time

Posted by Jens Topics: Thoughts

I’m not sure if I’m right about this, but I don’t think that there’s a way to filter direct messages in Twitter.

Hence.

I never use direct messages, I have, but not anymore.

The reason I stopped, is that the messages I receive are close to all, either automated or spam.

Just read the last 10 direct messages I have received:

#1 – Hey Thanks for Following Me! Many More Tips on My Blog (link) or on FB (link)

#2 – Multiply your follow count FAST! (link)

#3 – Thanks for the Follow. Please check out Newbie Rewards. 1000s of ebooks, videos courses and more. Free Memberships (link)

#4 – Were is the love. Please download this free app because its a win win for both of us. (link)

#5 – Hey, I’ve been using Digsby and thought you would find it very useful. Check out the demo video: (link)

#6 – Twitter Software, Mac or PC, Auto Tweet or Reply, Mass Follow/Unfollow, Proxy Support, Niche Marketing, It does it all! (link)

#7 – Twitter Software, Mac or PC, Auto Tweet or Reply, Mass Follow/Unfollow, Proxy Support, Niche Marketing, It does it all! (link)

#8 – If you’re one of those that says ‘Just Say No To Another Juice Company’ – (link)

#9 – Guys buy in total safety!!! (link)

#10 – Thx for following! Stop by for good cheer. Can I help you achieve? Smokers, have you seen the cleaner cigarette? Go to, (link)

And it continues, the messages never stops.

It takes forever to read all new direct messages, and when 99% of them are not interesting, then I don’t think I have any choice but to not read them at all.

That’s until I find a way to deal with them, filter them, or stop spam and automated (boring) messages.

What about you, are you using direct messages on Twitter?

Share and Enjoy:

View Comments

http://twitter.com/helpanelephant Barbara Shepler

Your list would result in 10 unfollows from me! I don't get many auto-DMs like those though. I use DM specifically to take a conversation private.
http://www.online-marketing-vault.com Chris Anderson

I have to admit that I do use an auto DM but it's only to say thank you when someone adds me. At least that's the idea. I've been thinking about this as well lately though.

I do however use DMs to talk to people. That is the only auto DM I use. Granted a lot of my recieved DMs are auto but I've had my fair share of private conversations as well.

I just tend to skim through them. It starts to get easy to spot the auto DMs after awhile.
http://twitter.com/LaughlinJames James Laughlin

I'm with Chris. I have used DMs only to say “thanks” but I'm not doing that anymore. I do use them, and think they're valuable for personal communication with friends. I actually prefer a DM from a friend who truthfully needs my attention.

But Jens and Barbara are right too. DMs are a sure way to get my attention in a bad way too. Those tweets would end in 'unfollow' from me as well.

Bottom line, with great power comes great responsibility.
http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

I have used DMs to talk to people as well, but now it's getting more and more difficult to find the “important” messages. I think there are way too much spam and automatic messages. On the other hand, it wouldn't be more than a few minutes to spot the messages – a few minutes each day
http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

I'm not unfollowing them, but on the other hand, I'm not having any contact with them either. I just sort of leave them alone
http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

I might try the personal communication via DMs, it's been a while… that's because of all the spam and the auto-DMs. If I didn't receive as many, I would probably use them more.
http://twitter.com/helpanelephant Barbara Shepler

Certainly it would be hard to find the wanted DMs if you get a lot of them. I'm not that popular though, and I proactively select who I follow, so it hasn't been a problem for me. I've been fortunate and actually had very few auto-DMs and even fewer spammy ones.
http://www.directyourcareer.com/blog Mike Anderson

This seems to be true to me as well. Whenever I follow someone, I get something akin to an autoresponder message back either thanking me, or encouraging me to buy something. I don't mind that, but it caused me to start ignoring them!

Great post!

Mike – http://www.directyourcareer.com/blog
http://www.another-blogger.com/ Latief@AnotherBlogger

Yes, sometimes it is bro but DM works for me if I need a favor I'll send DM to my twitter friends may be its depends who the sender.
http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

It seems to work ok, the only problem is that it's no way to filter the messages (like email). At least, I haven't found a way to filter them. And when I receive almost as many DMs as email, it takes up too much of my time (well, I'm only talking about a few minutes every day)
http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

I enjoyed the thank you messages in the beginning, but when close to everybody are sending them, it becomes a message that I expect and therefore I ignore them.

On the other hand, if a person sends me a creative thank you message, then I'll probably read it. But it has to be different, and funny

Spam has never been any fun, and they still suck, even on Twitter
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