Writer's Guide To Twitter > Twitter Etiquette > Isn't it proper Twitter etiquette to always follow back if someone follows you?
To see an index of topics, please see the Main Twitter Guide For Writers page. To go back to my blog for kidlit/YA writers and illustrators, see Inkygirl. You can find me on Twitter at @inkyelbows (focus: craft & biz of writing) and @DebbieOhi (chatty replies, Twitter chats).
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Isn't it proper Twitter etiquette to always follow back if someone follows you?
In the early days of Twitter, many people adopted an automatic follow-back policy. Some people still do this today.
I don't. Why? Because:
- It tends to attract those who are just after huge numbers of followers. In fact, I've read profiles of people out there who actually promise to follow anyone back, no matter who they are, in an effort to accumulate followers.
- I use Tweetdeck and other tools to search for topic trends and other info in the tweets of those I follow, so prefer only following those who tweet about things I'm interested in, or with whom I'm likely to interact. If you tweet mainly about real estate, for example, I'm unlikely to ever be interested in reading your tweets no matter how wonderful a real estate agent you are.
So my answer is: it may be "proper" Twitter etiquette for some people, but I find it's more a matter of personal choice.
Also see: "I just followed xxx. How come they never followed me back?"
Last updated on February 25, 2012 by Debbie Ridpath Ohi