Written by Staff Writer
This story has been updated with a response from Twitter.
Twitter said Friday it will no longer allow photos or GIFs of individuals posted without their consent.
The company did not say how long the changes would be in effect, and did not respond to requests for further comment.
In a tweet Thursday, Twitter said “graphic media with no clear context will no longer be shown as replies to tweets.”
This could severely curb how many people saw President Donald Trump’s feud with actor Robert De Niro, which first erupted this week.
Using the platform, Trump warned against an upcoming film about the Democratic fundraiser John Gotti, one of New York’s most notorious criminals.
De Niro mocked Trump during a speech last week. On Twitter, Trump jumped on the opportunity. “Robert De Niro, a very Low IQ individual, has received to many shots to the head by real boxers in movies. I watched him last night. May he never learn!,” Trump tweeted.
It quickly evolved into an increasingly nasty back-and-forth that left Twitter searching for an appropriate response.
On Friday, Trump wrote, “Robert De Niro, a very Low IQ individual, has received to many shots to the head by real boxers in movies. I watched him last night. May he never learn!”
Trump has often called out De Niro through his Twitter account. De Niro was among the first to respond, calling Trump “an idiot” and reminding him that this was the “40th anniversary of ‘Raging Bull,’” a 1972 boxing film in which De Niro played boxer Jake LaMotta.
Meanwhile, Twitter’s official account – @Twitter – sent out a series of tweets on how to not use the platform to promote violent conflict.
“If you aren’t engaging with the original tweet, don’t reply by threatening violence. Retweeting others’ replies is fine – and a retweet can become a new tweet – so don’t wait for the original account to tweet the reply. If you have a question, ask directly,” one tweet read.
The move comes amid growing concerns about the use of Twitter.
The company has been repeatedly criticized by lawmakers and activists in Washington for its role in spreading violent political messages.