Twitter adds ability to report spam

Twitter has added a report spam option where users can report other Twitterers whom they believe are spammers. Each profile page now has a link where users can instantly report spam accounts.

According to Twitter clicking on the “report for spam” link alerts Twitter that the account is a possible spam account and blocks the account from following you or replying to you.

Twitter considers an account spam if they use any of the following actions.

Posting harmful links (including links to phishing or malware sites)
Abusing the @reply function to post unwanted messages to users
Creating lots of accounts or using automated tools to create multiple accounts
Spamming trending topics to try to grab attention
Repeatedly posting duplicate updates
Posting links with unrelated tweets
Aggressive following behavior (for instance, mass following and un-following in order to gain attention)

Twitter users are excited about the new feature as they begin to spam users and clean up their accounts.

PeterClumpy (Harrogate) Good news. Brittney appears to have stopped stalking me – thanks to Twitter’s Report Spam Option 13 Oct 2009 from web

crabsnu (Undisclosed) The report spam option is the best thing since sliced bread in my opinion. Luuuvve it! 13 Oct 2009 from web

RadekKolecki (Undisclosed) Finally with the report spam option for Twitter we may see fewer tools spamming nonsense and abusing the trend topic 13 Oct 2009 from web

justiceblob (Nottinghamshire, England) Report Spam Option- quite possibly The best feature of Twitter other than tweeting itself. Bye Bye Britney porn! 13 Oct 2009 from Echofon

MyCondoNow (Undisclosed) Twitter will finally have a report Spam option! No more teeth whitening and makemoneynow feeds. 13 Oct 2009 from web

bernardoChris (Undisclosed) Im loving the Report Spam Option, Just cleaned out my @replys of most of the spam. Fun fun fun…. 13 Oct 2009 from web

diarreamental (Undisclosed) @twitter @spam Thank you for the new report spam option! 13 Oct 2009 from web

AnnetteSlater (West Sussex, England) Excellent! we now have a Report Spam Option. Now we can clean up twitter from those blimmin porn and advertising sites! Great news! 13 Oct 2009 from web

Some Twitter users are excited about the new spam feature and would also like to see the long-awaited retweet feature added to the site. Twitter says it is in the plans.

aidadoll (Undisclosed) they got a report spam option now? good, now get a retweet option 13 Oct 2009 from web

J3rWin (Chennai, India) ohh rite we got the report spam option now..,,n wherez the retweet option ? 13 Oct 2009 from web

adamsimon (Orlando, FL) “Report Spam Option” is a start, but now the Twitter site interface needs updating. Besides reply and fave, add Spam and RT options. 13 Oct 2009 from web