Twitter tested a filter for unwanted direct-message requests in August 2019, then said in September that it was rolling the feature out across iOS, Android, and the web. It moved some requests out of the main view and hid potentially offensive previews; it did not stop messages from being sent or automatically remove every spam message.
What Twitter’s 2019 DM filter did
On August 16, 2019, TechCrunch reported that Twitter was testing a filter for message requests it considered unwanted, including spam and offensive content. Twitter Support described the goal as keeping unwanted messages “out of sight, out of mind.”
The filter placed selected requests in a separate view. A recipient had to tap “Show” to view them, and potentially offensive previews were hidden. Users could delete a request without opening the message.
This was a triage feature, not a guarantee against abuse: the reports describe sorting and concealing requests, not blocking all spam or preventing senders from contacting recipients.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Twitter said the filter was rolling out in September 2019
On September 30, 2019, TechCrunch reported that Twitter was rolling the filter out to iOS, Android, and the web. The feature placed direct messages from people the recipient did not follow in an Additional Messages view, where potentially offensive previews were hidden and messages could be deleted without being opened.
That September update describes a rollout after the August test, not merely an experiment. It records what Twitter announced at the time; it does not establish that the 2019 screen labels or behavior remain unchanged today.
Rank #2
- non-fiction african american book set
- non-fiction black book set
- non-fiction african american children's book set
- non-fiction black children's book set
Where filtered message requests appear in X now
Current X Help guidance says that, when message requests are allowed, messages from accounts a user does not follow appear in Requests. On iOS and Android, a quality filter is enabled by default and hides requests X considers lower quality. Those requests remain accessible at the bottom of the Requests view.
The current Help page is the appropriate guide for present-day controls; it should not be read as proof that the current interface or defaults are identical to Twitter’s 2019 design. Labels and settings may change.
Rank #3
Choose what to do with an unwanted request
Filtering, deleting, blocking, and reporting are different actions. X Help describes the available request-management choices:
- Review a filtered request: Open the filtered requests area at the bottom of Requests if you want to inspect something the quality filter hid.
- Accept: Accepting a request allows the conversation to proceed in your inbox.
- Delete: Delete a request if you do not want to keep or open it. Deleting is not the same as blocking the sender.
- Block: Block an account to restrict its ability to contact or interact with you.
- Report: Report a message or account when you believe it violates X’s rules. Reporting is separate from simply removing the request.
X Help also notes that the service may show warnings for graphic media. The exact options and screens can vary as X updates its apps and website.
The 70% spam figure refers to a different DM control
In its 2023 Digital Services Act assessment, X said it had seen a “70% reduction in spam in DMs” following the introduction of a feature limiting who could send direct messages to verified users and people the recipient follows. This is X’s own reported outcome for that separate access restriction, not a measured result for the 2019 offensive-content filter: X’s 2023 DSA assessment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the filter’s history developed
Twitter’s release notes add context to the transition from the 2019 rollout to later DM-request handling. The notes describe a DM Quality Filter that could put some requests at the bottom of the requests inbox. A March 2020 entry says messages considered spammy would be tombstoned, leaving users to decide whether to reveal them: Twitter release notes.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
