Search our FAQs

Ask a Question FAQs Printer Friendly Version
Twitter 7     List of Categories





  • How does link shortening work?
    Links shared on Twitter, including links shared in Direct Messages, will automatically be processed and shortened to an https://t.co/ link. Learn how to shorten links here.Please note: anyone with a t.co shortened link will be able to navigate to the destination url.

    To top
  • Why does Twitter have its own link shortener?
    1. Shortened links allow you to share long URLs in a Tweet while maintaining the maximum number of characters for your message.
    2. Our link service measures information such as how many times a link has been clicked, which is an important quality signal in determining how relevant and interesting each Tweet is when compared to similar Tweets.
    3. 3.Having a link shortener protects users from malicious sites that engage in spreading malware, phishing attacks, and other harmful activity. A link converted by Twitter's link service is checked against a list of potentially dangerous sites. Users are warned with the error message below when clicking on potentially harmful URLs.

    If the URL of a site you manage has been flagged, please see this help page about flagged urls for more information.


  • Can I opt out of link shortening when I post links on Twitter?
    Because of the reasons listed above, Twitter will shorten URLs you post on Twitter. You cannot opt out of link shortening.

    To top
  • Can I still use a URL shortener (like bit.ly) to shorten links?
    If you want to shorten links to share with others, please see this help page on using urls shorteners.You can continue to use a URL shortener to shorten links, and tracking metrics (like those from bit.ly) will continue to work as they did previously. The link service at https://t.co/ is only used on links posted on Twitter and is not available as a general shortening service on other apps or sites.

    To top
  • How to post a link in a Tweet on the web?
    1. Type or paste the URL into the Tweet box on twitter.com.
    2. A URL of any length will be altered to 23 characters, even if the link itself is less than 23 characters long. Your character count will reflect this.
    3. Click the Tweet button to post your Tweet and link.
    Note:You cannot opt out of our t.co link shortening service. Why? Learn more here.

    To top
  • How to post a link in a Tweet from your mobile device?
    1. Open your preferred mobile app, or begin a new text message.
    2. Type or paste the URL into your Tweet. Links will be adjusted with Twitter's link shortener wherever you post them. Some clients will adjust your character count as you compose a Tweet; some won't.
    3. Post the Tweet.
    A note about url safety

    • Some URLs can be harmful. Please be careful when clicking links, especially ones that were shortened using an external link shortening service.
    • URLs converted by Twitter's link service are checked against a list of potentially dangerous sites, and when there's a match, users will be warned before they continue.
    • Always check to see what website you're on before giving out your password or downloading any software.
    • Our safe tweeting help page has more information on keeping your account secure.
    To top
  • What is unsafe links on Twitter?
    If you see a warning about an unsafe link on Twitter, this means the URL matches a database of potentially harmful URLs which may lead to phishing, malware, or spam sites or sites associated with a violation of Twitter's terms of service

    You may see this warning when:

    • You Tweet a particular link.
    • You add a particular link to your profile.
    • You visit a particular link through Twitter's link service, http://t.co/
    To top
  • What is a potentially unsafe site?
    Unsafe sites may include phishing sites that attempt to steal your login information and password, sites that download malicious software onto your computer, spam sites that request personal information, or sites associated with other violations of Twitter's Terms of Service. This could also mean the website was compromised at some point, and malware was embedded onto the website.

    To top
  • Why does Twitter flag URLs as unsafe?
    Twitter flags URLs for account security, user safety, and for violations of our Terms of Service. Twitter flags potentially unsafe URLs, in order to make Twitter more secure, prevent phishing and scams, and enforce our Terms of Service. In certain circumstances, Twitter may block the posting of potentially unsafe URLs. Twitter works with various external partners to evaluate links and whether or not they are safe. Our account security tips article has more general information on keeping your account secure.

    To top
  • What does website is being flagged as unsafe?
    If you manage the website of a URL flagged as unsafe, contact Twitter Support. If the URL of the site you manage is being blocked, and you are completely sure that your site is not being used on Twitter for malware, phishing, spam or other violations of Twitter's Terms of Service, you can contact our Support team by filing a case here In the Problematic link field, please insert the extended URL of the link you are having issues with, rather than a shortened version.
    Note:If you encounter spam or malware links,artical here.

    To top
  • What is following?
    Following someone on Twitter means:
    • You are subscribing to their Tweets as a follower.
    • Their updates will appear in your home tab.
    • That person is able to send you direct messages.
    To top
  • What are followers?
    Followers are people who receive your Tweets. If someone follows you:
    • They'll show up in your followers list
    • They'll see your Tweets in their home timeline whenever they log in to Twitter.
    • You can start a private conversation with them (see direct messages).
    To top
  • How do I find people to follow?
    When you create an account, you can search for people by name or @username, import friends from other networks, invite via friends email.

    To top
  • How do I know who I'm following?
    After you click or tap the Follow button on someone's profile, you're following them. See a list of people you're following by clicking on the followers link on your profile page will also tell you who is following you.

    To top
  • What are follow limits?
    Twitter has follow and update limits for stability and abuse control. You can read more about this here

    To top
  • How do I know who is following me?
    The followers link on your profile page or home page will show you how many followers you have and who they are. By default, Twitter sends you an email to let you know when someone new follows you. Set up your email preferences to notify you when you have a new follower or to turn these notifications off.

    To top
  • How do I get followers? Can I ask someone to follow me?
    There is no way to send a request for other users to follow you on Twitter. Though some users send a reply to others asking them to follow, this is not a good way to gain followers.

    Avoid third party applications that promise to get you many followersthese usually break our terms of service and can get your account suspended

    The best way to gain friends and fans on Twitter is to engage with people, follow others whose Tweets are interesting or meaningful to you, and be an active part of the Twitter community by reading and posting high-quality information.

    To top
  • Can I restrict who follows me, or sees my updates?
    Yes: you can protect your Tweets (or un-protect them). click here to learn how.

    Protecting your Tweets means anyone who wants to follow you must submit a request for your approval. Only followers you approve can see your protected Tweets and your Tweets will not appear in search engines.

    To top
  • Can I stop,Once I start following someone?
    Yes! You can unfollow other accounts at any time. click here to learn how. Twitter does not send a notification when you unfollow someone.

    If you have requested to follow someone whose Tweets are protected, then change your mind, you can click cancel to undo your follow request. (The cancel button appears on their profile in the same place you clicked the follow button.)

    Continue

    To top
Was this page helpful?