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Twitter Had ‘Secret Blacklists’ To Limit Users, Journalist Claims
Independent journalist Bari Weiss says Twitter used secret blacklists to limit the visibility of certain accounts
Independent journalist Bari Weiss says platform restricted visibility of ‘disfavored tweets’.
Twitter created “secret” blacklists to limit the visibility of “disfavored tweets” and certain right-leaning accounts, independent journalist Bari Weiss has claimed, citing an investigation based on internal company documents.
Weiss, a former New York Times opinion editor who now runs The Free Press, said on Friday the social media platform’s previous management restricted the reach of particular accounts with what it called a “Trends Blacklist” and “Search Blacklist” as well as a “Do Not Amplify” tag.
Twitter, which was bought by billionaire Elon Musk in October, has in the past publicly acknowledged limiting the reach of certain accounts – leaving them visible to followers but limiting their visibility in conversations and search results – although it has received criticism for not notifying affected users or being transparent about its decisions.
In a Twitter thread, Weiss said the blacklisted figures included Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor who opposed COVID-19 lockdowns, Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, and “Libs of TikTok”, an account that reposts and mocks content posted elsewhere by liberals and LGBTQ people.
Weiss, who quoted a number of unnamed Twitter employees to support her claims, included screenshots that appeared to show the interface Twitter used to blacklist certain accounts, including tags denoting their restricted status.
“We control visibility quite a bit. And we control the amplification of your content quite a bit,” Weiss quoted an unnamed Twitter engineer as saying. “And normal people do not know how much we do.”
Weiss said the most politically sensitive decisions were made by a team known as “Site Integrity Policy, Policy Escalation Support,” which included Vijaya Gadde, the then head of legal, policy, trust and safety, and Yoel Roth, who was global head of trust and safety.
Al Jazeera has contacted Gadde and Roth on Twitter and Linkedin for comment.
Kayvon Beykpour, Twitter’s former head of product, rebutted Weiss’ of characterisation of the platform’s policies, saying the company never denied ranking accounts but had rejected claims of “shadow banning” – or making certain posts undiscoverable to everyone except the person who posted it.
“You are characterizing any de-amplification as equating to shadow banning which is either a lazy interpretation or deliberately misleading,” Beykpour said on Twitter.
Weiss’s publication of the material comes after Twitter’s new owner Musk shared internal company documents with Weiss and fellow independent journalist Matt Taibbi.
Musk, a self-described free-speech absolutist who has accused Twitter’s old management of being biased towards liberal viewpoints, has cast the release of the files as an effort to increase transparency about the platform’s influence over political speech.
Critics have accused Musk of leading a witch hunt against former Twitter employees, compromising the platform’s safety and security, and ushering in a surge in bigotry and hate on the platform.
On Friday, Musk wrote on Twitter that the platform was working on an update to “show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadowbanned, the reason why and how to appeal”.
Weiss’s claims on Friday drew a polarised response, with conservatives seizing on her reporting as evidence of Twitter’s liberal bias and many on the left accusing her of hyping up a non-story and doing PR for Musk, the world’s richest man.
Some Twitter users also pointed out that Musk last month said that hateful and negative tweets would be “deboosted” and “demonetised” under his leadership, casting the platform’s new policy as “freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.”
Last Friday, Taibbi, a former Rolling Stone Journalist who now writes on Substack, published internal Twitter correspondence from October 2020 showing how executives made the decision to restrict the spread of a New York Post article about materials found on a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden, United States President Joe Biden’s son.
The communications showed Twitter’s top brass discussing how to handle the article, the sharing of which was ultimately restricted under the platform’s policy against hacked materials.
Twitter’s decision to censor the article, which provoked heated debate about the role of social media in democracy, came after former US intelligence officials said the laptop story bore the hallmarks of Russian disinformation – although no evidence of Russian involvement was offered.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
East Ham, East London — 8 August 2026: The vibrant Igbo community in the UK came together for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, culture and social connection at Igbotic Game Night, one of the biggest social gatherings celebrating the Igbo community in the United Kingdom.
Among the night’s standout moments was an electrifying performance by Afrobeats artist Obeena, who took the stage and immediately captured the attention of the crowd.
Obeena delivered performances of two of his hit songs, “Wara Wara” and “Banging,” bringing his energetic sound and distinctive stage presence to the event. From the opening moments of his set, fans responded with excitement, singing along, dancing and enthusiastically supporting the artist.
His performance of “Wara Wara” created an instant connection with the audience, while “Banging” took the energy to another level. Obeena’s ability to engage the crowd transformed his set into one of the most memorable entertainment moments of the evening.
Held in East Ham, East London, on 8 August 2026, Igbotic Game Night provided a unique platform for members of the Igbo community to celebrate their heritage while enjoying music, games and social interaction. Events such as this continue to play an important role in bringing together Nigerians and the wider African diaspora in the UK.
For Obeena, the performance was another opportunity to showcase his growing artistry and connect directly with fans. His energetic delivery, stage confidence and ability to command the audience demonstrated why his live performances continue to attract attention.
By the end of his set, Obeena had left the crowd amazed and added another memorable chapter to his journey as an Afrobeats artist. His appearance at Igbotic Game Night was not simply a performance—it was a celebration of Nigerian music, culture and community.
With performances like this, Obeena continues to demonstrate his ambition to take his sound beyond the studio and onto major stages, connecting with audiences through music, energy and an unmistakable African identity.
Igbotic Game Night brought the Igbo community together. Obeena gave them a performance to remember.
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