Do you keep hearing about subtweeting on Twitter, now X, but can’t figure out what it is? Well, this is no surprise, as this term is almost as old as the platform itself. It was from a time when life on the internet was significantly different from what it is today.
Today’s discussion is to bridge the gap between this social network’s past and its present. You’ll learn about this medium of communication, how to create one, and how it impacts users.
Table of Contents
What Is Subtweeting?
You want to know what is subtweeting as you keep coming across this phrase on X. It is a way of referring to a person on Twitter without directly mentioning their display name or username. In other words, you don’t use the “@” symbol to tag an individual by their username.
Usually, they have a negative connotation, as people use this tactic to criticize or mock someone. However, it is also possible for users to use this strategy to spread positivity. But this is a rarity compared to what people talk about in a subtweet.
People resort to creating subtweets because it doesn’t notify the individual they’re talking about. You can think of it as talking about an individual behind their back.
The roots of this phrase go back as far as 2009. Chelsea Rae (@Chelsea_x_Rae), a Twitter user, was one of the first to use this term in a post.
Subliminal tweet is another name for subtweets. Also, these types of posts are usually text-based.
The aim of these tweets isn’t to provide factual or objective information. Instead, the goal is to share your impressions of people. However, you try to keep it mysterious, so anyone reading it wonders who you’re talking about. You provide hints through your content to provide some context.
Subtweet Example: 2 Types of Subliminal Tweets You’ll See on Twitter
Having the right subtweet example is helpful when creating these types of posts. People tend to tweet the following versions of subliminal posts on X.
1. The Original Method, i.e., Not Mentioning the User
When most people talk about subtweets, they refer to the original method. In this type of post, you ensure you don’t tag a person by their real name or X handle. However, you mention an incident, a characteristic, or something else to indirectly let the individual know it’s about them.
Avoid being obvious, as the person and their followers can quickly figure out who you’re talking about.
If your post feels relatable or makes the reader laugh, it means you’re on the right track. Avoid being passive-aggressive, as this won’t go down well. Remember, people may misinterpret what you’re trying to say and react negatively to your post.
Here’s an example — “Why does five minutes always seem like it will take longer?” This is a vague yet relatable subtweet.
“When you see their call, you know it’s to help clean up their mess.” On the other hand, people can easily misunderstand this post and start a heated debate in the reply section.
2. Including their Display Name or Username Without the “@” Symbol
This is another variation of a subliminal post — you use the person’s display name (handle). However, you don’t use the “@” symbol to avoid notifying the individual about the tweet.
This technique requires walking a fine line, as you can easily offend the account holder. Even your followers may call you out if it comes off as mean. However, general observations work well in this type of tweet.
For example — “I can’t believe Elon Musk bought Twitter!” doesn’t come off as offensive.
If the individual doesn’t have an X account, it also makes sense to include their name.
How to Subtweet on Twitter?: The Ultimate 3-Step Guide
You want to give subliminal posting a shot but don’t know how to create one. You’ll easily get the hang of it with a bit of practice and patience. Follow this guide to learn how to subtweet on X.
1. Make Your Intentions Clear
Before you start crafting your post, you need to understand why you want to do so in the first place. Do you want to vent about a situation you experienced recently? Did you observe a funny quirk and want to poke fun?
By establishing your intentions, it becomes easier to write the post.
2. Establish Boundaries To Stay on Track
Some boundaries are good as they ensure you don’t cross the line. Think of what is offensive to the person you’re talking about. While creating the post, make sure you never touch this topic.
3. Be Vague and Don’t Mention the Individual While Crafting the Tweet
Once you have the guidelines, you can start writing the tweet. Make sure you’re vague when describing the situation with an individual. The goal is to make people curious about who you’re referring to in your post.
Avoid mentioning the name at all costs, as this adds to the mystery. Think of different ways to talk about the individual without tagging them. In other words, you must be indirect while including contextual information.
3 Reasons Why You Should Be Careful About Posting Subtweets
Cryptic posts can seem all fun and games until they go out of control and become a problem. Below are three reasons to be careful when posting such content on X.
1. It Can Turn Into Cyberbullying
The main reason why these posts have an air of negativity is because they can quickly turn into cyberbullying. Remember, if you don’t protect your posts, every tweet you publish is public. Anyone on X can see the post even if they don’t follow you.
Let’s say a person figures out who you’re talking about and tags them in the comment section. It quickly starts to gain traction, and everyone’s replies focus on the individual.
At this point, the targeted user will feel defenseless as people gang up against them. This can turn into cyberbullying, which is harmful to the individual’s mental health.
2. People Can Take it Out of Context
Another potential issue with these posts is that they remain on X’s database for years. This means new people may come across your subtweet and won’t understand what you’re talking about. They can take it out of context and attach a different meaning.
For example, you’re applying for a new role in a company you always wanted to work for. The hiring manager does a background check on various social media platforms to gauge your character.
They discover the cryptic post and assume you’re being spiteful towards your previous company. This not only affects your reputation but also hinders your future career opportunities.
3. It Can Make People Feel Negative Emotions
Another issue with covert posts is that you don’t have control over how people feel when they read your posts. The targeted individual may feel various negative emotions like anxiety, isolation, and bitterness.
Use TweetDelete To Remove Bad Subtweets Before They Become Problematic
Artful subtweets take significant practice and skill, as you need to talk about an individual indirectly. Otherwise, there is always the risk of leaving a bad impression and backfire.
You tried your hand at cryptic tweets, but they didn’t pan out as expected. These posts have the potential to affect your reputation in the future. Remember, peoples’ opinions about the world change with time.
A bad post can become downright offensive over time, and you’ll face significant backlash.
What if multiple cryptic tweets indirectly mention a specific individual? People can report your posts for breaking X’s abuse and harassment policy. The social media giant may suspend your account or ask you to take down these tweets.
Instead of letting it come to this, you must immediately take action with TweetDelete. It will find any critical tweet on your profile with the custom filter. The mass-delete tweets utility can quickly delete these posts without leaving any traces.
If you don’t want to do this manually, there’s always the auto-delete feature. Using the Twitter keywords you provide, this utility will easily find posts that fall under the subtweeting category.
If your profile only has these subliminal posts, you can delete all of them. You get a fresh start without creating a second Twitter account.
Become a subscriber of TweetDelete today and delete any post that can affect your reputation with a few clicks!
