Short message service Twitter did not work for many users for hours on Wednesday night. The crash occurred just after the launch, so subscribers could create extra-long tweets. In Turkey, the service is out for political reasons.
On Wednesday night, Twitter did not function as expected for many users, Twitter reports after complaints. Tens of thousands of Twitter users reported Wednesday evening that they were experiencing technical problems and could not send tweets. Those problems are now largely resolved.
The technical issues more or less coincided with the launch of a new feature for Twitter Blue subscribers: paying Twitter users now have the option to post tweets of 4,000 characters instead of the usual 280. Since Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, there are also major savings on personnel and infrastructure for the platform, which is financially deeply in the red.
Twitter remains inaccessible in large parts of Turkey, but not due to problems at the company itself. Netblocks.org, an internet governance watchdog, acknowledges that access to Twitter was restricted “through various internet providers in Turkey.” Turkey has a long history of restrictions on social networks during national emergencies and security incidents.
More than 10 people have been arrested since Monday’s earthquakes over social media criticisms of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s policies. Many people blame his government for the slow start of rescue efforts. However, Erdogan admitted on Wednesday that the government’s response was flawed in some areas. “The circumstances are clear. It is impossible to be ready for a disaster like this,” he said during a visit to the hard-hit province of Hatay. The Turkish authorities have not yet explained the disruption of the service.