X Removes 1.7 Million Reply Bots, Plans Further Action Against DM Spam

X (formerly Twitter) has announced the removal of 1.7 million automated accounts from its reply sections in one of its most significant bot crackdowns to date. The move aims to enhance user experience by reducing spam and maintaining the authenticity of conversations on the platform.

Nikita Bier, X’s Head of Product, confirmed the action on Monday, stating that users should begin to notice improvements in the coming days. This initiative follows months of user complaints about the increasing presence of reply spam, particularly in discussions related to cryptocurrency, trending topics, and viral news posts.

The company has indicated that its next focus will be on addressing spam in direct messages (DMs). While X has not disclosed the specific detection methods employed, it confirmed that its systems now rely more heavily on automated analysis and behavioral signals to identify suspicious activity. Bier referred to the effort as a “direct attack” on the longstanding bot problem that has eroded engagement and credibility across the platform.

Bot networks have long been a concern for X, hijacking discussions and distorting visibility for genuine users. The current operation primarily targeted reply threads, where spam and scam links have been most disruptive. X has promised that this is only the beginning of broader enforcement efforts to combat spam and maintain the integrity of user interactions on the platform.

This crackdown is one of the largest enforcement actions since Elon Musk took over the platform, signaling a renewed commitment to enhancing user experience and trust.