Twitter 101
Twitter 101 sounds like the title of an introductory book on how to use Twitter and I wouldn't be surprised if such a book - with that exact title - exists, but this page is not all about how to use Twitter. Instead, this page is focused on one particular aspect of Twitter that many people don't seem to know about, and that is, who exactly can send you a Direct Message and who can't send you a Direct Message.
When you create a Twitter account, the default setting regarding Direct Messages (DM) is shown below. Notice how this box is unchecked. That's the way you want it to be. If it wasn't that way, any of the 310 million Twitter users would be able to send you a Direct Message and clog up your inbox. So, it makes sense that this is the default setting. If you don't believe me, please feel free to do your own research.
When you create a Twitter account, the default setting regarding Direct Messages (DM) is shown below. Notice how this box is unchecked. That's the way you want it to be. If it wasn't that way, any of the 310 million Twitter users would be able to send you a Direct Message and clog up your inbox. So, it makes sense that this is the default setting. If you don't believe me, please feel free to do your own research.
For example, I bet you can't send a Direct Message to Barack Obama (@POTUS) or Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) because chances are they don't follow you. You could follow them, but you still won't be able to send them a Direct Message. What you need to remember is that you can’t send direct messages to people who aren’t following you. However, an interesting thing occurs when you use TrueTwit and I think it will surprise you!
TrueTwit users have had their settings changed - without their knowledge - and because of this change anyone on Twitter can now send them a Direct Message. It's as if that security setting shown above (Receive Direct Messages from Anyone) has been checked, even though the default setting is for that to remain unchecked. So, in essence, this means TrueTwit is like a spammer's paradise because once you've been identified as a TrueTwit user anyone can send you a Direct Message and believe me, in time, they will. You will get so many Direct Messages your inbox will be constantly clogged up!
For example, anyone can send a Direct Message to Rose Thistle Artworks (@rosethistleart) because they proudly proclaim that they "use True Twit validation for followers" and so this has opened them up to Direct Messages from anyone on Twitter. Go ahead, send them a Direct Message!
You can also send Direct Messages to:
TrueTwit users have had their settings changed - without their knowledge - and because of this change anyone on Twitter can now send them a Direct Message. It's as if that security setting shown above (Receive Direct Messages from Anyone) has been checked, even though the default setting is for that to remain unchecked. So, in essence, this means TrueTwit is like a spammer's paradise because once you've been identified as a TrueTwit user anyone can send you a Direct Message and believe me, in time, they will. You will get so many Direct Messages your inbox will be constantly clogged up!
For example, anyone can send a Direct Message to Rose Thistle Artworks (@rosethistleart) because they proudly proclaim that they "use True Twit validation for followers" and so this has opened them up to Direct Messages from anyone on Twitter. Go ahead, send them a Direct Message!
You can also send Direct Messages to:
Whenever I receive a TrueTwit validation request, via a Direct Message, I now take the opportunity to send a Direct Message back to the person who sent me the validation request. In my message, I state that I will NEVER comply with their validation request AND I inform them that their Twitter Security and Privacy Settings have been changed by TrueTwit and that this change has now made them vulnerable to DM spam from anyone and everyone on Twitter.
This information often comes as a surprise to TrueTwit users because they thought they were fighting spam by signing up for TrueTwit, but in reality they have become part of an elaborate spam network. TrueTwit is so low and sleazy, so smug and arrogant, that I wouldn't be at all surprised if they sell lists, containing all the names of their users, to spammers. This would be ironic, seeing as how they like to portray themselves as helping to fight spam, but when you carefully study TrueTwit, as I have done over the past four months, you start to see what they're all about.
TrueTwit is very good at blurring the issue regarding the true source of Twitter spam and they're quite good at frightening Twitter users about all the evil spammers that lurk out there in the Twitterverse. Therefore, they essentially trick people into using their "service" through misinformation and scare tactics. What's worse is that once you have TrueTwit, most people can't figure out how to get rid of it and so they just learn to live with it, but you don't have to do that. I'm hear to help you!
This information often comes as a surprise to TrueTwit users because they thought they were fighting spam by signing up for TrueTwit, but in reality they have become part of an elaborate spam network. TrueTwit is so low and sleazy, so smug and arrogant, that I wouldn't be at all surprised if they sell lists, containing all the names of their users, to spammers. This would be ironic, seeing as how they like to portray themselves as helping to fight spam, but when you carefully study TrueTwit, as I have done over the past four months, you start to see what they're all about.
TrueTwit is very good at blurring the issue regarding the true source of Twitter spam and they're quite good at frightening Twitter users about all the evil spammers that lurk out there in the Twitterverse. Therefore, they essentially trick people into using their "service" through misinformation and scare tactics. What's worse is that once you have TrueTwit, most people can't figure out how to get rid of it and so they just learn to live with it, but you don't have to do that. I'm hear to help you!
turn off truetwit
To turn off TrueTwit all you have to do is go into your Twitter Settings and click the "Revoke Access" button next to TrueTwit. You will find this button under the "Apps" section of your Twitter Settings. The step-by-step instructions appear below. Please make sure you are using a desktop or notebook (laptop) computer when following these instructions. It's much harder to turn off TrueTwit if you're using a mobile device, such as an iPhone or an iPad (or the Android equivalents of these Apple devices).
Step 1 - Click on your profile and settings button
step 2 - scroll down to "settings" and click
Step 3 - click on "apps"
step 4 - click the "revoke access" button next to Truetwit
I can't actually show you this step exactly because I don't have, nor have I ever had, TrueTwit. However, I can show you an example of a "Revoke Access" button because I have given access to iPetitions. If you would like to sign my petition - it's a petition to get rid of TrueTwit - you can do so by clicking here. The folks at TrueTwit have signed my petition many times. Chad and the boys at Kettle River Consulting in Minnesota - the creators of TrueTwit - are so mature!
As soon as you click the "Revoke Access" button located next to TrueTwit, you will no longer be one of their spambots. You will no longer send out TrueTwit validation requests, via DM, to your new followers. You will also make Twitter a better place for everyone, you will not annoy your new followers, and you will begin to enjoy your Twitter experience.
step 5 - check your direct messages setting
After clicking the "Revoke Access" button (Step 4) you should probably check your "Security and Privacy" settings. So follow Step 1 and Step 2 again, but this time when presented with that extensive menu click on "Security and Privacy" and complete the last task, which appears below.
The final task involves scrolling down to the bottom of the page, where you will find the setting regarding "Direct Messages". Make sure the little box DOES NOT have a little check mark in it. If it does, click it - to make the check mark go away - then be sure to click the "Save Changes" button.
You're done!
That's all there is to it.
You have now learned all about TrueTwit and how they are actually a conduit for spam. You have learned that instead of trying to prevent spam, TrueTwit actually encourages spam! You have learned that TrueTwit tricks people into using their so-called "service" and most importantly you have learned how to turn off TrueTwit.
If you have successfully used these instructions to turn off TrueTwit, please let me know. You can find me on Twitter (@DVonDudenstein) and I encourage you to join me every Tuesday as we spread awareness about TrueTwit. Please use the hashtag #TrueTwitTuesday, which by the way I started, even though @GoTrueTwit uses this hashtag way more often than I do.
That's all there is to it.
You have now learned all about TrueTwit and how they are actually a conduit for spam. You have learned that instead of trying to prevent spam, TrueTwit actually encourages spam! You have learned that TrueTwit tricks people into using their so-called "service" and most importantly you have learned how to turn off TrueTwit.
If you have successfully used these instructions to turn off TrueTwit, please let me know. You can find me on Twitter (@DVonDudenstein) and I encourage you to join me every Tuesday as we spread awareness about TrueTwit. Please use the hashtag #TrueTwitTuesday, which by the way I started, even though @GoTrueTwit uses this hashtag way more often than I do.