What Is X (formerly Twitter) Auto-Follow, and How Does it Work?

What you need to know about this common tool

You joined X (formerly Twitter). You want to get more followers. But how to go about it? You could manually search the social network. Or, you can take advantage of tools that let you find new followers automatically. Learn more about X auto-follow.

What Is X Auto-Follow?

X auto-follow refers to various methods, software programs, and incentives used to generate followers automatically for an account on the social network. The most common characteristic among these tools is automation. Typically, the software makes many follower connections automatically on X rather than manually by the X user.

Auto-follow methods usually rely on reciprocal following, which means following the people who follow you. That's a common practice on X; auto-follow tools make it easier.

Other auto-follow methods do slightly different things. Some, for example, are designed to help you find new people to follow on X based on your interests. Other systems maintain lists of accounts that automatically follow you if you follow them.

What's the Goal of X Auto-Follow?

The purpose of auto-follow is to help people get more followers on X. Some premium automation tools also work with other social networks, helping boost connections on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Myspace.

While a few auto-follow tools are free, most companies that make them charge subscription fees. For that reason, their use on X is sometimes referred to as "buying followers."

In the long run, it's a good idea to manually add your own followers and steer clear of auto-following, especially if your goal is to build lasting connections and expand in a meaningful way that can help you and your business.

Auto-follow tools are an artificial way to build an X following quickly. The connections they generate typically aren't as valuable as those you acquire on your own using manual or natural methods. There are some basic strategies to get X followers on your own worth learning.

Still, auto-follow tools are used by many businesses to jump-start their X community. If done carefully, it can help increase anyone's number of followers on X. If your policy is to follow back everyone who follows you, automation tools can save time.

X's No Auto-Follow Rule

X doesn't like automated following. X rules state, "The only auto-following behavior X allows is auto-follow-back (following a user after they followed you). Automated unfollowing is also not permitted. If your account automation is causing your account to violate the X Rules (by retweeting spam updates, repeatedly posting duplicate links, etc.), your account may be suspended or terminated."

Reciprocal following is allowed, and it's encouraged as good X etiquette. But it's only allowed if people continue to follow those people they automatically followed, at least for a while.

Auto-follow apps typically run a numbers game—they generate a ton of follows on X, with the goal of getting some follow-backs. Then, they quickly unfollow these same people and repeat the follower acquisition process. This is against X rules, and it could get your account banned.

Attract X Followers With Advertising

There are many kinds of auto-follow systems and tools. Some use indirect methods that are basically a form of advertising—you pay to advertise your account to potential followers.

X offers promoted accounts where companies and people pay to be displayed prominently in X customized Who to Follow recommendation lists. This isn't considered auto-following because it doesn't involve anyone automatically following anyone else. The lists simply show usernames. It's up to individual users to decide whether to follow a promoted account.

Buy X Followers

Some third-party services offer ways of advertising X accounts and charge based on how many followers result from each promotion. The practice of charging for follower acquisitions is sometimes called buying followers.

These services aren't advertising in the usual sense. Typically, they use tactics designed to increase the number of followers in an automated fashion. They involve a mix of auto-following and advertising. Often, they don't disclose details of their methods.

It's hard to predict exactly when using any large-scale auto-follow service might get you in trouble with X. But be aware of the risk of suspension if you decide to use one of these tools.

Other auto-follow services are based on keyword filtering. You provide the keywords that interest you, and they promise to identify users to follow that match those keywords.

X's Following Rules and Best Practices

It's a good idea to read the full version of the X following rules and its automation rules. Here are some other things to keep in mind.

X's Follower Limits

An unlimited number of people can follow you on X, but there are limits on how many people you can follow.

Anyone can follow up to 2,000 people. After that, limits on how many additional people you can follow kick in. It depends on your ratio of followers to those you follow. If you have a ton of followers and don't follow many people, for example, you're allowed to follow more people than if you have few followers and follow a lot of people.

X imposed these limits on the number of people users can follow to curb the aggressive following practice common with spammers.

Do Your Own Following Most of the Time

Auto-follow services can be tempting when you're trying to expand your following on X. Still, it's important to maintain control over your X account and build the kind of connections that add value to your experience.

The real value of X lies in meaningful communication, not number of followers. Therefore, it's a good idea to be wary of auto-follow services.

Was this page helpful?