Twitter flags Substack links as unsafe as feud continues

The Twitter versus Substack battle rages on, as the social media app continues to discourage promoting offsite Substack posts by marking all site links as "unsafe" for users.

On April 7, Twitter appeared to add a warning to all external Substack links, the Verge reported, prompting users to steer clear of the platform and describing them as possibly "spammy or unsafe."

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Earlier this week, the newsletter platform seemed to initiate the final straw against Twitter by launching its new Substack Notes feature — a "recommendations" feed that looks strikingly similar to the traditional, scrollable social feed that's at the crux of Twitter's use. As many seek to leave the Elon Musk-owned social media app, Substack seemed to be providing alternatives, including a recently launched chat function that lets newsletter writers and followers engage with each other.

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In response, Twitter has speedily put up roadblocks to Substack promoters on the platform, including the site's official account. On Thursday, Twitter blocked Substack users from embedding tweets in stories. Not long after, tweets with links to Substack posts seemed to be barred from engagement, only allowing users to quote tweet posts — no likes or retweets for anyone. Soon, no one could engage with the official Substack Twitter account, either, with Musk openly "breaking up" with Substack writer and Twitter Files reporter Matt Taibbi.

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Substack told Mashable that the moves were a strike against the freedom of its writers. "Their livelihoods should not be tied to platforms where they don’t own their relationship with their audience, and where the rules can change on a whim."

The new anti-Substack addition seems to be the most pointed attempt at keeping Twitter users off of Substack. According to The Verge, this is the first adjustment to Twitter's URL policy since 2020. Twitter has not yet offered an explanation.

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