Is Twitter New Algorithm Transphobic?

Twitter DM Appears To Limit Visibility Of Gender Sensitive Words

April 04, 2023 Twitter

Business Insider tested users' concerns of difficulty in viewing tweets sent by DM that describe sexual orientation and gender identity.

Here are the results that will make you question the Twitter algorithm:

[{"selector":"#anim-49b53433-88be-4d68-846d-8af13cd88823","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.14894%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87099473-6021-43ba-baa1-eb4099caeed8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3078929-6f27-439f-93f0-05d721d74829","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

In Insider's test tweets that included the words "trans," "transgender," "gay," "lesbian," "queer," "bisexual," and "intersex," the messages appeared as a URL link rather than in a preview format.

[{"selector":"#anim-5a45c48f-872a-4621-b5a1-cc2af61a6a5d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.96718%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8829a38e-db43-4f16-9127-9b9e7427424f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77153a68-d7be-4617-980c-d98b095bf16c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The one exception was the word "bisexuality," which showed up as an easier-to-read tweet preview.

[{"selector":"#anim-e7f08b85-e4a5-4473-a06b-f1b115091097","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-87.4%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7751952a-236b-447d-8b29-2143a24283bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0fb5cafb-1429-46b2-8180-576294189aa5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

"Guns" appeared as a URL, similar to the LGBTQ+ terminology, though "drugs" populated as a preview message.

[{"selector":"#anim-0f438264-1c55-419f-8052-2bd77997c69d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2853c18c-80a9-4194-9a63-ba09fdfa6498","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27a800ac-0385-4bff-b63c-3d6b6982a16b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Twitter is appearing to limit the visibility of tweets that include terms to describe gender identity and sexual orientation.

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Twitter is yet to confirm whether the apparent direct message bug was an intentional choice.

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