Twitter Guide for Government: Don’t Spam

Download the PDF: Thou Shalt Tweet! 15 Commandments for Government Agencies on Twitter


11. THOU SHALT NOT SPAM

Government organizations don’t spam, do they? Maybe not intentionally, but Twitter has a long list of behaviors that it qualifies as spam that you might not have thought of. 


Here are a few of those:

  • Posting misleading links
  • Posting duplicate content over multiple accounts or multiple duplicate updates on one account
  • Posting multiple unrelated updates to a topic using #
  • Sending large numbers of duplicate @replies or mentions
  • Sending large numbers of unsolicited @replies or mentions in an attempt to spam a service or link
  • Adding a large number of unrelated users to lists in an attempt to spam a service or link
  • Repeatedly posting other users’ Tweets as your own
  • Creating or purchasing accounts in order to gain followers
  • Using or promoting third-party sites that claim to get you more followers 
  • So keep these in mind and remember – the only good Spam comes in a can!


Complete Listing of All 15 Twitter Commandments


This guide evolved from a post by Alain Lemay on GovLoop titled “Who Not to Follow On Twitter: A Guide for Public Sector Employees.” Alain is a Senior Web Communications Analyst for the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Agency in Canada. He graciously donated his time to assist in producing the 15 Commandments for Government Agencies on Twitter Guide in tandem with the GovLoop team.


  1. Thou Shalt Listen Before You Leap
  2. Thou Shalt Use Thy Profile Information Properly
  3. Thou Shalt Have a Disclaimer
  4. Thou Shalt Not Be a Bully (Nobody Likes a Bully!)
  5. Thou Shalt Tweet Regularly
  6. Thou Shalt Integrate My Tweet Approval Process
  7. Thou Shalt Not Register Alternate Accounts
  8. Thou Shalt Not Automate Thy Tweets
  9. Thou Tweet In the First Person
  10. Thou Shalt Not Bait and Switch
  11. Thou Shalt Not Spam
  12. Thou Shalt Be Selective About Who You Follow
  13. Thou Shalt Monitor Thy Account
  14. Thou Shalt Contribute to the Conversation
  15. Thou Shalt Measure for Success