Google bullies Twitter into NoFollow

[QuirkyJessi]

This is slightly old news, but I don't remember reading it here, so I'm going to post it anyway.

Google Bullies Twitter Into Adding Nofollow

I’ve decided to add my disdain to Google’s request to Twitter to add a nofollow to links contained within the bio section of user profiles.

Rae Hoffman is not afraid to stand-up for what’s right, and I’m happy to lend my support. In case you missed the story, here’s what happened.

The “web” link has always been a nofollow link, but the bio links passed popularity until Dave Naylor exposed it, which alerted Matt Cutts (a Google engineer) who sent a tweet to @ev (a twitter founder) about Dave’s forementioned post and *poof* bio links were nofollowed.

I’m particularly annoyed because nofollow is supposed to be used on links where you do not wish to vouch for the link–at least by passing PageRank. However, my profile at Twitter was built by me, promoted by me, and any incoming links are the result of my hard work to build a community around it. As Rae points out, Twitter is benefiting from those incoming links, so why can’t I?

[Bloggeries]

I remember that. I think the final nail in the coffin when was everyone and their dog started to blog about getting a "FREE BACKLINKS FROM TWITTER". Bound to happen.

Thanks for sharing Jessi!

[ffnstuff]

interesting, i didnt know that

[Ferox]

I'd completely forgotten about Twitter. I find it easier to write a post every other day than writing one contained sentance daily.

[fabuloushandbag]

That stinks. that's the only reason I go to Twitter.

[ffnstuff]

Originally Posted by fabuloushandbag

That stinks. that's the only reason I go to Twitter.

the only reason, just for that link?

[GaryJay]

I'm an old dude, and as such maybe I am getting slow, but----I don't understand the purpose of twitter?---like what purpose does it serve?

[ffnstuff]

its like an even more souped up myspace in that you can let everyone know what your doing with announcements. I usually use it to tell people about new posts, blogs, contests etc.

The more followers you have is more like the more subscribers you get. The more people reading, the better.

[GaryJay]

ffnstuff: that makes sense to me, cept from what I read above, Twitter is now a "no follow" site, so no point going there now??

[QuirkyJessi]

Originally Posted by Ferox

I'd completely forgotten about Twitter. I find it easier to write a post every other day than writing one contained sentance daily.

I'm kinda the same. I never really got into it completely and found that wasting my time writing several sentences worth of random updates throughout the day could've formed valuable posts instead.