Tweeting images of the “Tide pod challenge” at Tide’s Twitter account could get you suspended from Twitter.
The viral video trend features social media users biting into the Tide laundry pods as a form of dare. The trend was inspired by the pods’ bright colors, which give them a candy-esque appearance.
But tweeting images from the videos at Tide’s corporate account could get Twitter users suspended.
Jon Levine, media editor for The Wrap, found that out the hard way. Levine tweeted a screenshot from YouTuber Matthew Lush doing the Tide pod challenge and tagged Tide in the tweet. Levine sent the joking tweet in response to a Tide ad during the Super Bowl.
YouTuber Matthew Lush does the Tide pod challenge — just don’t tweet this at Tide (Screenshot/YouTube)
Twitter took action against Levine almost immediately, suspending his account for 12 hours and forcing him to delete the tweet.
An automated message from Twitter told Levine his tweet violated Twitter’s “rules against abusive behavior.”
“You may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so. We consider abusive behavior an attempt to harass, intimidate or silence someone else’s voice,” the message said.
The message implies that it constitutes harassment of Tide — which is part of corporate giant Procter & Gamble — to tag the company in Tide pod challenge tweets. Twitter did not return The Daily Caller’s request for comment.
Levine suggested that Twitter was trying to protect Tide by censoring his tweet.
“Given how much actual abuse takes place on their platform, it’s sad that Twitter would devote resources to carrying Tide’s dirty laundry,” Levine told TheDC.