For a privileged few who requested it, Twitter provided an “autofollowing” service that saved premium members the time and effort it takes to follow back everybody following them. Twitter sent out word they will no longer be offering this service.
Robert Scoble
Some of those high profile members would include an email sent out to users by cofounder Biz Stone:
We’re going to discontinue autofollow because this behavior sends the wrong message. Namely, it is unlikely that anyone can actually read tweets from thousands of accounts which makes this activity disingenuous.
In addition to receiving updates from more people than one person could possibly read, those autofollowing also fell victim to Twitter spammers (“spitters,” and one day I’ll successfully coin a phrase dammit) prowling for autofollowers to send their shortened, cloaked malicious links to.
Dave Winer
That Twitter has quasi-secret special services for high profile users might be news to some and seem very unfair. What else might they offer VIPs the general Twitter audience can’t access? But over time it becomes increasingly obvious that Twitter’s road to monetization will intersect with celebrity gated communities. They’re looking to hire a Twitter celebrity (VIP) liaison, and
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