Strange Twitter bug got accounts banned for tweeting ‘Memphis’
Image: AFP/Olivier Douliery.
Twitter users were confused when they found out that the social media site temporarily banned them for using the word “Memphis.”
The strange bug was reported by several social media users and has been resolved by Twitter, but the microblogging platform did not provide any explanation about the bug. Instead, Twitter only apologized for the error.
“A number of accounts that Tweeted the word ‘Memphis’ were temporarily limited due to a bug. It’s been fixed and the accounts have now been restored. We’re sorry this happened,” Twitter Support said in a post earlier today.
A number of accounts that Tweeted the word “Memphis” were temporarily limited due to a bug. It’s been fixed and the accounts have now been restored. We’re sorry this happened.
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) March 14, 2021
Despite getting resolved, the bug caught the attention of many people, including that of French football club Olympique Lyonnais.
“Hey, Twitter – can we talk about him yet?” the football club said in a tweet with a photo of their Dutch player Memphis Depay.
Hey, @Twitter – can we talk about him yet? 😄 pic.twitter.com/nVn3nY9zBb
— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) March 14, 2021
Some netizens also noted that a 12-hour break from social media doesn’t sound so bad, and even tested if they could be banned from the site for tweeting the word.
If you want a 12 hour break from Twitter just tweet this city name and you will be immediately locked pic.twitter.com/3cL1W4rxUX
— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) March 14, 2021
heard i can get a free 12 hour break from twitter if i do this, so
memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memphis memp
— no way (@ZeppyUwU) March 14, 2021
However, the bug only seems to apply to unverified accounts as the Tennessee-based basketball team Memphis Grizzlies tested out if they could be banned through a tweet yesterday, March 14.
“The gang from Memphis is about to play a basketball game,” the team tweeted. The account wasn’t shut down.
The gang from Memphis is about to play a basketball game.
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 14, 2021
It is not clear yet what exactly caused the bug and why it resulted to suspension of accounts on Twitter, but as of writing, social media users can already freely tweet out the word “Memphis” without getting banned. JB
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