Twitter displaying ‘rate limit exceeded’ message? Know what it means exactly as Elon Musk introduces reading limits

Twitter users experienced difficulties searching profiles, topics, and the feed on Saturday, 1 July. DownDetector first received reports of these issues at around 12pm (noon). The majority of issues were reported on the mobile app, but there were also reports of problems on the desktop version of Twitter.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk later confirmed that the company was introducing "temporary limits" on the number of posts users could view each day.

Twitter’s ‘rate limit exceeded’: What it means?

Twitter users who see the "read limit exceeded" message have reached the maximum number of posts they can view on that day. On the mobile app, this message appears to limit the number of replies you can see under a post, as well as your ability to refresh your feed.

Widespread issues were reported after the message started popping up, which prevented users from seeing more than a certain number of posts per day. The message was the result of new temporary limits imposed by Elon Musk, who recently acquired Twitter. Musk said that the limits were necessary to "address extreme levels of data scraping & system manipulation."

The limits apply to all users, but they are more restrictive for unverified accounts. Verified accounts are limited to reading 6,000 posts per day, while unverified accounts are limited to 600 posts per day. New unverified accounts are limited to 300 posts per day.

To address extreme levels of data scraping & system manipulation, we’ve applied the following temporary limits:

- Verified accounts are limited to reading 6000 posts/day
- Unverified accounts to 600 posts/day
- New unverified accounts to 300/day

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 1, 2023

The problems on Saturday were widespread, and #Twitterdown and RIP Twitter began trending on the platform. Musk acknowledged the problems in a tweet, saying that "there are still some glitches as we continue to fix things".

Till when the limits be in place?

The temporary limits are due to expire on August 1, but it is unclear whether they will be extended. Musk has said that he is "committed to making Twitter better than ever for everyone".

FAQs:

What does ‘rate limit exceeded’ means?
Twitter users who see the "read limit exceeded" message has reached the maximum number of posts they can view on that day. On the mobile app, this message appears to limit the number of replies you can see under a post, as well as your ability to refresh your feed.

What new reading limits are introduced on Twitter by Elon Musk?
The reading limits apply to all users, but they are more restrictive for unverified accounts. Verified accounts are limited to reading 6,000 posts per day, while unverified accounts are limited to 600 posts per day. New unverified accounts are limited to 300 posts per day.