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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 Robert Scoble and other digital age celebrities. Scoble’s Twitter account shows he follows nearly 85,000 people, which one supposes is like always eavesdropping on a random sample of comments emanating from a Rolling Stones concert.

(One also imagines that in the next installment of the “Bruce Almighty” series, whoever gets to be God for a while has his mobile blown up by realtime tweeted prayers. Imagine the hilarious, organization calamity a temporary Yahweh faces when he autofollows all who follow him. Cameo apparance by Nick Jonas in the belly of the Fail Whale.)

The idea behind autofollowing for some was that it was just polite; if somebody follows you, then you should return the favor. For others it was more about seeing just how big they could blow up the balloon without it popping.

While there are third party apps using autofollow, Twitter’s own quietly offered service will be no more. From 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 Dave Winer expects Twitter to get snobbier.

“Every day Twitter does more to tip the table away from the individual and more toward the media industry,” he writes.

While autofollowing sends a disingenuous message, don’t be surprised when Twitter suddenly becomes the home of celebrity minutia, which for some reason is always lucrative. Expect this too: ghost-writter celebrity Twitter accounts sponsored by big brands willing to pay a nice sum (Britney’s tweets brought to you by Glenn’s Unfortunate Tattoo Removal.)
 

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