According to Neowin, Elon Musk’s X has started suspending accounts using third-party extensions like OldTweetDeck and OldTwitter following a massive ban wave that began around three hours ago. The suspensions target users of a free Chrome and Firefox extension developed by Ukrainian developer dimdenGD that replicates the original TweetDeck functionality. This comes after X transitioned TweetDeck to a paid subscription model as part of X Premium in mid-2023. The developer himself warned users to “turn off oldtwitter and oldtweetdeck” to potentially avoid bans. Multiple reports on the OldTweetDeck GitHub page confirm accounts are being suspended indiscriminately regardless of age or follower count, with the bans appearing to be algorithmic and automated.
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Why this matters
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just about some random extension. It’s about X’s broader strategy to monetize everything. When Musk bought Twitter, he inherited a platform with a rich ecosystem of third-party apps and tools. Now? He’s systematically dismantling anything that doesn’t directly contribute to X’s revenue. The move to make TweetDeck part of X Premium was always going to be controversial, but actively hunting down people using workarounds? That’s next-level enforcement.
And let’s talk about the timing. This ban wave hit right as the developer dimden was gaining significant traction. The GitHub issue thread shows dozens of people reporting suspensions within hours. This feels coordinated, like X’s systems were specifically tuned to detect the extension’s API patterns. According to Twisted Voxel’s reporting, the bans seem to be triggered by irregular API activity – basically, X’s systems flagging anything that doesn’t look like official app behavior.
What’s next for users
So if you’re affected, what can you actually do? The advice is to appeal through X’s support channels and immediately stop using the extensions. But let’s be real – how effective are those appeals really? X’s support has been notoriously slow and inconsistent since the acquisition. Creating new accounts might work temporarily, but it risks permanent device bans.
Here’s the bigger question: Is this really worth it for X? They’re alienating power users – the exact people who made Twitter valuable in the first place. TweetDeck users are typically journalists, developers, marketers, and other professionals who rely on the platform for work. Driving them away seems counterproductive when you’re trying to build a sustainable business.
Broader implications
This crackdown signals something important about X’s future direction. They’re clearly prioritizing revenue over ecosystem. Remember when Twitter had a vibrant third-party app community? Those days are long gone. Every feature that was once free is now being walled off behind paywalls.
And honestly, where does this end? If they’re banning people for using OldTweetDeck today, what’s next? Browser extensions that block ads? Tools that archive tweets? The pattern is clear – if it doesn’t make Musk money, it’s not welcome on X.
The irony is that alternatives like Bluesky are gaining momentum precisely because of moves like this. When you treat your most engaged users like criminals for wanting basic functionality they’ve had for years, you’re basically handing customers to your competitors. Seems like a strange way to run what Musk claims will become “the everything app.”
