Twitter’s recent rate limit changes, implemented by Elon Musk, have not only affected users’ daily reading limits but also had an impact on the visibility of tweets on Google’s search engine. This development has led to a decrease in the reach and availability of information shared on Twitter, as reported by SEO experts.
SearchEngineLand, a web search industry outlet, revealed that Google Search has witnessed a significant drop in the number of indexed URLs from Twitter. Over the past few days, the saturation of search engine results from Twitter decreased by more than 60%, resulting in approximately 180 million indexed tweets by Google.
Confirming this decline, a Google spokesperson stated that their ability to crawl Twitter.com has been limited, impacting their ability to display tweets and pages from the platform in search results. SEO consultant Glen Gabe also observed a decrease in search visibility from Twitter accounts. He attributed this occurrence to Google’s inability to crawl the URLs due to Twitter redirecting non-logged-in users.
Technologist Barry Schwartz conducted similar tests and noted that Google had dropped over 50% of the indexed URLs from Twitter since Friday when Twitter restricted signed-out users from viewing tweets.
However, the number of indexed tweets seems to be dynamic and reliant on Google’s crawlers. When Cointelegraph tested the search query “site:twitter.com,” it returned approximately 665 million results, indicating fluctuating figures.
The crypto community, which heavily relies on Twitter for communication and information sharing, has criticized Elon Musk’s imposed limits on posts. The reduced visibility of tweets on Google will also lead to a decrease in crypto-related content originating from Twitter.
As a result, decentralized Twitter alternative Mastodon has experienced increased activity and gained active users since the restrictions were placed on Twitter. Furthermore, Meta-owned Instagram is preparing to launch its own Twitter rival called Threads this week.
In conclusion, the rate limit reductions imposed by Twitter have not only affected users’ daily reading limits but also resulted in a decline in the visibility of tweets on Google’s search engine. This development has implications for the crypto community and may encourage the adoption of alternative platforms like Mastodon or Meta’s Threads.