Update: I should try this more often suggest improvements on my blog. I wrote and posted this entry on May 4th. Two days later Twitter changed their email notification. I am convinced that it was co-incidence and the change was in the works for a while. They also don’t call it “Smack”, but more civilized “Block” this user. Thanks Twitter team.
The only thing missing are the last 5 posts of the new follower, but I guess they were afraid that this additional database call would tax their system too much.
This morning the Twitter Follow Spammers spiked for me about 10x. It is frustrating and I feel a bit helpless, as I don’t want to go to every spam follower’s profile to block. Others just switched off all follow emails, which I may be forced to do too.
In addition to my previous request to enhance the Twitter follow email, I would like to have a smack button in it too: This Twitter user is a spammer <smack>. Actually I could only do it when I have the additional information: Twitterer since, number of followers, posts, last 5 posts, …
In the background Twitter could have an algorithm running taking into account: Posts, followers, conversations and number of smacks to throw people off the system. If they want to continue to be successful they need such strengthen their immune system.
I am afraid that soon we will all get “@<your twitter name> check this out !!! Cheap. <link>” Which will destroy your vanity Twitter search. A Smack button needed for that too.