Close
  • Contact us
  • Log in
  • Home
  • Groups
    • Pet Insurance
    • Travel Insurance
    • Car, Van & Bike Insurance
    • Phone, Gadget & Item Insurance
    • Health Insurance
    • Business & Professional Insurance
    • Sports & Leisure Insurance
    • Home Insurance
  • Reviews & guides
  • About us
Open menu Bought By Many
Log in
Open search
  • Groups
    • Pet Insurance
    • Travel Insurance
    • Car, Van & Bike Insurance
    • Phone, Gadget & Item Insurance
    • Health Insurance
    • Business & Professional Insurance
    • Sports & Leisure Insurance
    • Home Insurance
  • Reviews & guides
  • About us

Sorry you don't like Twitter ads. These tips should help you see less of them.

Sam Gilbert By Sam Gilbert 11th September 2014

1. Dismiss Promoted Tweets you don't like

Next to the icon showing that a tweet is promoted is "x Dismiss". Click the cross, and the Promoted Tweet will disappear from your timeline. One you've done this, you won't see the same tweet again, and it's less likely you will see Promoted Tweets in future.

2. Don't reply to a Promoted Tweet, EVER

Replying to a Promoted Tweet is interpreted by Twitter as a signal that you are interested in the tweet - even if you write something negative or complain. By replying, you make it more likely you will see Promoted Tweets from that advertiser and other advertisers in future.

Some Twitter users have very strong feelings about Promoted Tweets and make a point of replying to every one they see to register their displeasure, or protest that it's spam (note: Promoted Tweets aren't spam - find out why below.)

This user doesn't want to hear about flights:

@AirFranceUK spam

— man united (@manutdreserves) September 11, 2014

Or about marketing technology:

@atlassian spam. Blocked

— man united (@manutdreserves) September 10, 2014

Or about furniture:

@HarveysHQ if I wanted that stuff I'm capable of looking for it without the help of your spam. Blocked

— man united (@manutdreserves) September 10, 2014

Ironically, replying has the opposite effect of what they intend. Twitter thinks they really like seeing Promoted Tweets and therefore shows them as many as possible.

3. Avoid clicking on anything in the Promoted Tweet (except the "x Dismiss")

Other actions, like expanding the tweet to see the replies, or clicking on the profile picture or handle of the advertiser are also interpreted by Twitter as signs you like the advert. As such, clicks make it more likely you'll see more Promoted Tweets in future.

Why can't you just not show your ads to me?

Twitter advertisers don't choose which individual users see their ads - that's done by Twitter, based on criteria the advertiser gives them. For example, at Bought By Many, if we want people to know about our group for Rescue Dogs, we might ask Twitter to show our ads to people who follow animal shelters and rescue centres. Or, to reach Young Drivers, we might ask Twitter for an audience of people who have used words like "black box car insurance" in recent tweets.

You can read more about how Twitter decides what ads to show you here.

Won't Twitter just give up on Promoted Tweets if users complain enough?

I'd say that's unlikely. Twitter is free to use, but costs hundreds of millions of pounds to run. Advertising is its primary source of income, and its investors expect it to be making more and more money from ads as time passes. Over time, though, Twitter's algorithms will get better at determining which ads to show to which users.

What's the difference between Promoted Tweets and Twitter spam?

Promoted Tweets are paid for by advertisers. They can only come from bona fide Twitter accounts and Twitter vets all prospective advertisers before it allows them to advertise. It also monitors their ads and stops ads that don't comply with regulations or are inappropriate or offensive.

By contrast, Twitter spam involves accounts that have either been hacked on set up specifically to send unsolicited messages. These accounts then tweet other users indiscriminately, or with crude targeting (use the word "fat" in a tweet and you might get an automatic reply from a spambot with a link to a weight loss product). These accounts haven't been vetted or approved.

"The whole process was painless and I got what I think is a really good price with good cover compared to other online quotes."

David Millar David Millar
Read more testimonials

Want to see insurance change for the better? Then add your voice to a Bought By Many group.

Join Bought By Many

Related Offers

  • Pet Insurance for Rescue Dogs
  • Young Drivers Insurance
  • Tweet
More like this:

Winston Wolf and the Sad Truth about Insurance Advertising

Props to Direct Line: the latest Winston Wolfe advert actually says something useful about their ...

  • by Sam Gilbert

Trending Puppies Report, 2nd Quarter 2014

We analysed a ton of internet search data to find the UK's most popular puppies in 2014. Here ar...

  • by Sam Gilbert
  • Reviews & guides
  • Community
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Testimonials
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • International
  • Contact
  • FAQs

Bought By Many Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with number 7886430. Address: 1-10 Summers Street, London EC1R 5BD. Bought By Many Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - Register number 652623. This register can be checked for details of our permissions, history and contact details.