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Suspended From Twitter

By
Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

Have you ever received an email notification that someone was following you on Twitter, so you clicked on the link to find out who they are, only to have it bring you to this screen below?  YIKES!  At this point I would normally just close the window and move on, but today was different.  Today, the wise old "Twitter Owl" grabbed my attention causing me to investigate further.  I'm glad I did, this was worth it.

If you haven't seen this before, and you're on Twitter, you will eventually.

Twitter Suspends Members

I noticed the sentence at the top that reads, "Sorry, the account you were headed to has been suspended due to strange activity. Mosey along now, nothing to see here."  HUH?  I felt like a school child having my hand slapped.  Have you ever clicked on the "Mosey Along Now" link?  I did and had to laugh.  It was like kicking my heels together twice and there I was.  Then I decided to read a bit further and noticed this, "...or if you're curious as to why an account might be suspended, head over this way for the juicy details."   What the Heck?  How could you not click on it when they put it that way?

Here's what I found out about Twitter today.  Just like many of you, I don't read the terms and service on many of these social networking sites, we just join and start clicking away.  It's like installing software, who really reads that stuff anyway, you just click the "I agree" box and go.  Well 1800 followed, 1458 followers, and 830 twitter updates later, here I am, finally reading their terms.  You have to be laughing inside right about now... I hope I'm not the only person that has ever done this.

Check this out, you can get suspended on Twitter if you do ANY OF THESE 5 THINGS and get caught. I guess every good tweet gets the birdie, but if you're a bad tweeter, you're gonna get the owl!

So while on this subject, (since I know you'll be clicking on that link above... haha), you might want to take a minute and check out the terms of service here on ActiveRain too.  Ours are a bit different than Twitter, but I'll let you be the one to decide if playing by the rules is worth it or not. 

Every Social Network you're on including ActiveRain has to suspend members from time to time. We should all try to make it a point to read and honor ALL Social Networks terms, rules, and guidelines, it's really no different than being in someone else's home or neighborhood.  The funny thing is, more people have probably watched this "Twitter In Plain English" video, than actually read their terms of service. 

I think I'll tweet this post now, but don't follow too closely, not knowing the terms could get you suspended. :-O  Also See Library: Everything Twitter

Comments(123)

Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Sandy - I always read their Bio and their last 10-20 tweets.  If it's something I'm interested in or can share, then I usually follow them.  If they are following 2000, have 45 followers, and 1 update, I usually don't.  Hope that helps. :-)

Jan 04, 2009 02:15 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Jeremy - I'd have to say no.  Looks like a show like that only increases the awareness about twitter and at the same time increases their membership.  How could that be considered against their TOS? Silly boy! :-)

Jan 04, 2009 02:17 PM
Morgan Evans
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

I just had this happen to me my first time today and I knew exactly what I was looking at because of your blog post. 

Jan 04, 2009 02:24 PM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Brad - I have seen several times, thanks for the heads up!

Jan 05, 2009 01:49 AM
Anita S. Crum
Rose and Womble Realty Company - Newport News, VA
Hampton Roads Real Estate (757) 692-6438

LOL.  Brad this reminds me of the modified version of the licensing agreement with Microsoft that I read once that said that by clicking on the "agree" button I was agreeing to be Bill Gates' towel boy for the rest of my life or something like that.  I believe it was one of those gags done just to prove how no one ever reads those agreements. :)

Jan 05, 2009 06:08 AM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate

I have to laugh at what Anita just wrote, I don't know how many times I agree to terms and conditions without reading them all the while assuming if I live by the Golden Rule I should be fine...guess I better read a bit too:)

Jan 05, 2009 07:09 AM
Joshua & Kathy Schmidt
ERA Henley Real Estate - Cabot, AR

Brad,

     Thanks for sharing, I have read the user terms, but I haven't used tweeter to its fullest capability yet.  Okay, that is an understatement.  I haven't really used it at all.  I really need to get with it and see if it is a tool I could utilize to my advantage.

Jan 05, 2009 12:30 PM
Joshua & Kathy Schmidt
ERA Henley Real Estate - Cabot, AR

Brad,

     Thanks for sharing, I have read the user terms, but I haven't used tweeter to its fullest capability yet.  Okay, that is an understatement.  I haven't really used it at all.  I really need to get with it and see if it is a tool I could utilize to my advantage.

Jan 05, 2009 12:30 PM
Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty
Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ
Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

Brad, I just saw the suspended account notice when I clicked onto an email.  I know that I've never read the terms but took some time tonight to do so. 

I don't think that I'll have problems but it sure is good information as to how you can get suspended.  I don't know what is worse, getting suspended from high school or getting suspended from Twitter.

Jan 05, 2009 02:00 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

woops -- I guess it is good to reach the terms of service -- I know we all just click and go!

Jan 05, 2009 02:27 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Lenn- Twitter is wonderful for business!  I just got my first listing inquiry from someone following me on Twitter. And I just picked up a Twitterer from the airport and gave her a ride so we could get to know each other more, she is a great business contact for me and I for her. It worked out great. I am meeting people you don't meet on Active Rain to network with and it is so much faster than Facebook. I Twitter for business but can't help get my toes into politics and just met an awesome 16 year old very smart young man who lives in Israel and giving his side of the story on the conflict.

Brad- That was so funny! You did good how you tied it all together, full circle to AR terms of service:)

Jan 05, 2009 02:51 PM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

I'm a pretty clean cut guy, so I am not looking forward to ever being suspended from Twitter.  I am sometimes curious to know why someone would randomly choose to start following me though?  I guess we will just have to see where this Twitter thing goes.

Jan 05, 2009 04:48 PM
Sabrina Kelley
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

I think that if you are on a person of solid conduct then you really don't have to worry that you might not be meeting the terms of service agreement.

Jan 05, 2009 06:26 PM
Mary Kent
Five Star Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids to the Lake Shore

Brad-Thank you for the heads up! This is very usuful information that would otherwise have us scratching our heads asking WHY!!!

Jan 06, 2009 02:45 AM
Dora & Vincent Kwok
HomeSmart Real Estate - Chandler, AZ
CNE - Chandler, Arizona Real Estate

Brad - Thanks for highlighting the TOS for Twitter.

 

 

 

Jan 06, 2009 12:26 PM
Cindy Edwards
RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN
CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

I have seen that owl!!!  Thanks for the explanation.

Jan 06, 2009 12:55 PM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

I have seen that message MANY times.  They are pretty quick to shut someone down on twitter, which I really like.

Jan 07, 2009 04:54 AM
Marianne Snygg
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Monument, CO
ABR, ASP, GRI, SFR

I have gotten that message and have always wondered what the person REALLYdid. Something dastardly, I think! I've read the items you're not to do, but I WANT specifics.

Jan 09, 2009 02:27 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Just got another owl tonight, some people must be really bad! lol~  :-)

Jan 10, 2009 03:15 PM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

I'm thinking anyone here on AR should be warned or suspended for those same reasons!

I also think they should be warned of a possible suspension for posting their contact information when making comments on another member's blog.

Jan 11, 2009 08:09 AM