How do we ban auto-generated DM’s?

by Richard Reeve on December 12, 2008

in @CCSeed

So here’s my story.  When I first got in touch with all these tools I was enthralled.  I can feed this to there, loop it back over here and have automatic messages sent when I’m not even on-line…wow!  When we turn folks on to these platforms, it’s to be expected that similar enthusiasm will ensue.  And like me, they will want to get it plugged in.

I’d like to make the case that we all ban together to stop the use of auto-generated direct messages whenever a new follow occurs on Twitter.  Here’s why.  DM is a back channel.  In business, and in social gatherings, back channels are important spaces for non-public communication.  They are a space to go private.  Now as my Twitter practice has grown, some very important conversations are emerging through that channel.    Yet time and time again, I need to go delete dozens upon dozens of meaningless messages that only really say twitter and your auto responder are working.

So think of it.  Your at a party and a couple is just starting to find some mojo and they quietly move off to a corner to talk out of earshot of the other folks.  And what happens?  Throughout their moment, some bozo keeps interrupting saying “I’m here!” …”I’m here!…”I’m here”… And what’s ever funnier, the guy isn’t there, just a message piped in over the speakers.  Naturally the couple leaves.

My point is this.  If we recognize the value of the channel, we can help others recognize it too.  Will you help me with this?

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  • Thanks everyone for adding to this discussion. In the end, I want to keep the channel useful, and find it hard when with current follow rates i get over twenty five auto-generted messages each day. That's enough to push anything you'd like to say to me off the front page before I get to it. Part of my practice is trying to respond to everyone that replies to me or DM's me. It's a bit of work and I just wish clutter wasn't there. I used the same services for my first 100 followers, but realized that for myself, it just wasn't cutting it.

    And Sheri, no, I'll continue to follow folks who use the auto DM. It may just be a poor channel for folks with high numbers in their network.

  • I don't mind an auto-response, though I don't use them as it seems impersonal. But I totally understand it as a time-saving measure. My responses probably seem very slow in Internet-time. Hopefully something more will follow, like Laura's idea of asking a question in the auto-response to begin conversation. Do you think a quick "unfollowing" of the auto-DM-product-pushers would get the message across that there's a better use for DMs?

  • I am not sure if a total ban as in order but I would like to voice my opinion. At 7:59 PM (EST) tonight, I will have been twittering for 10 days. I am a stay at home on the farm, mom of 3 small children. Until very recently I was not know to chat, IM, text, FB, LinkedIn or participate in any way in the social media of today’s world. I am in my mid- thirties and just now getting comfortable enough in my own skin to interact somewhat easily at parties and social situations (real life, get dressed, hop in a car) without breaking into a sweat. Now, same old me finds myself in cyber Twitterland following strangers and I get a DM thanking me for the follow and hoping we can do some good. I think, FANTASTIC! I reply back with such enthusiasm only then to realize that this is an automatically generated dealio—that’s just great. It takes me right back to the time I worked on my first big fund raiser: all the ‘big names’ had arrived at the event and were making nice about our work. In the most visible moment of the night, I stepped back on a toe and proceeded to apologize profusely for the injury until I realized the toe belonged to a mannequin. Odd but the same, ‘Oh crap!’ sentiment can happen in Twitterland. Here’s what would be a nice accompaniment to the auto TY for the follow DM: A question that you would like for us to answer. This would make the auto DM less awkward for the follower, make you look like less of a # chaser, and open the door for everyone to learn something new. And that’s all this mom has to say about that =). Have a great day!

  • And then I realize I can't spell. There goes any cred I had left. ;-)

  • I send out an Auto DM on follow just to say, "Hey, thanks for thinking I have something of interest to say." (that isn't the message I send).

    While I will agree that there is a lot of noise out there, I don't think that this type of DM is out of line. In fact, I often get a reply back on my message that starts a conversation.

    What I do not like is the person who publicly thanks every person that follows them.

    The interesting thing is that many of these services like Twitter are so new that there are no hard and fast rules of use. Many of these rules are made up on the fly, and I know that's part of your point.

    I may be way off base here, but I just don't see this as a problem.

  • It is not so much the auto DM, as the ones that have not been set up, and repeat the same thing from many users.
    An auto-DM I do not mind, is one that starts a discourse, whether in twitterstream or privately, enabling people to connect on a deeper level than numbers.
    An auto-DM I do mind, is one that is default, sent by many people that seems to say ¨I value you as a number, but not as a person¨.
    I admit to using auto-DM on follow, because I am so disorganised, and so useless when it comes to starting conversations, because of my Aspergers. Only one person has commented about it being auto, and that means I must now re-look at it and see how I can improve it again.

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