{"id":2640,"date":"2024-04-12T09:00:21","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T16:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/?p=2640"},"modified":"2026-03-13T00:02:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T07:02:11","slug":"subtweeting-on-twitter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/subtweeting-on-twitter\/","title":{"rendered":"Subtweeting on Twitter: The Art of Posting Cryptic Tweets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Do you keep hearing about subtweeting on <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/twitter-to-x-the-story-around-twitters-transition-to-x\/\">Twitter, now X<\/a>, but can\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s discussion is to bridge the gap between this social network\u2019s past and its present. You\u2019ll learn about this medium of communication, how to create one, and how it impacts users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-id=\"2641\" src=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dominik-van-opdenbosch-lNeIjS1rXus-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"An owl with brown and white feathers sits on a tree branch and tilts its head.\n\" class=\"wp-image-2641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dominik-van-opdenbosch-lNeIjS1rXus-unsplash.jpg 640w, https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dominik-van-opdenbosch-lNeIjS1rXus-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69ede226a7442\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69ede226a7442\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/subtweeting-on-twitter\/#What_Is_Subtweeting\" >What Is Subtweeting?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/subtweeting-on-twitter\/#Subtweet_Example_2_Types_of_Subliminal_Tweets_Youll_See_on_Twitter\" >Subtweet Example: 2 Types of Subliminal Tweets You\u2019ll See on Twitter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/subtweeting-on-twitter\/#How_to_Subtweet_on_Twitter_The_Ultimate_3-Step_Guide\" >How to Subtweet on Twitter?: The Ultimate 3-Step Guide<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/subtweeting-on-twitter\/#3_Reasons_Why_You_Should_Be_Careful_About_Posting_Subtweets\" >3 Reasons Why You Should Be Careful About Posting Subtweets<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/subtweeting-on-twitter\/#Use_TweetDelete_To_Remove_Bad_Subtweets_Before_They_Become_Problematic\" >Use TweetDelete To Remove Bad Subtweets Before They Become Problematic<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Subtweeting\"><\/span>What Is Subtweeting?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/how-to-pick-a-good-twitter-handle-8-unique-username-tips\/\">display name or username<\/a>. In other words, you don\u2019t use <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/tag-twitter-how-to-build-connections-through-mentions\/\">the \u201c@\u201d symbol to tag an individual by their username<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People resort to creating subtweets because it doesn\u2019t notify the individual they\u2019re talking about. You can think of it as talking about an individual behind their back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subliminal tweet is another name for subtweets. Also, these types of posts are usually text-based.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The aim of these tweets isn\u2019t 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\u2019re talking about. You provide hints through your content to provide some context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Subtweeting-First-subtweet-630-x-630.png\" alt=\"TweetDelete\u2019s screenshot of the first mention of a subtweet from a Twitter user.\n\" class=\"wp-image-2642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Subtweeting-First-subtweet-630-x-630.png 630w, https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Subtweeting-First-subtweet-630-x-630-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Subtweeting-First-subtweet-630-x-630-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Subtweet_Example_2_Types_of_Subliminal_Tweets_Youll_See_on_Twitter\"><\/span>Subtweet Example: 2 Types of Subliminal Tweets You\u2019ll See on Twitter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The Original Method, i.e., Not Mentioning the User<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When most people talk about subtweets, they refer to the original method. In this type of post, you ensure you don\u2019t tag a person by their real name or <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/how-to-change-twitter-handle-rebrand-your-digital-identity\/\">X handle<\/a>. However, you mention an incident, a characteristic, or something else to indirectly let the individual know it\u2019s about them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid being obvious, as the person and their followers can quickly figure out who you\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your post feels relatable or makes the reader laugh, it means you\u2019re on the right track. Avoid being passive-aggressive, as this won\u2019t go down well. Remember, people may misinterpret what you\u2019re trying to say and react negatively to your post.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example \u2014 \u201cWhy does five minutes always seem like it will take longer?\u201d This is a vague yet relatable subtweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen you see their call, you know it\u2019s to help clean up their mess.\u201d On the other hand, people can easily misunderstand this post and start a heated debate in the reply section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Including their Display Name or Username Without the \u201c@\u201d Symbol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is another variation of a subliminal post \u2014 you use the person\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/how-to-recover-twitter-username-7-surefire-solutions-to-try\/\">display name (handle)<\/a>. However, you don\u2019t use the \u201c@\u201d symbol to avoid notifying the individual about the tweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example \u2014 \u201cI can\u2019t believe Elon Musk bought Twitter!\u201d doesn\u2019t come off as offensive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the individual doesn\u2019t have an X account, it also makes sense to include their name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Subtweet_on_Twitter_The_Ultimate_3-Step_Guide\"><\/span>How to Subtweet on Twitter?: The Ultimate 3-Step Guide<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You want to give subliminal posting a shot but don\u2019t know how to create one. You\u2019ll easily get the hang of it with a bit of practice and patience. Follow this guide to learn how to subtweet on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Make Your Intentions Clear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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 href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/funny-twitter-posts\/\">a funny quirk<\/a> and want to poke fun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By establishing your intentions, it becomes easier to write the post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Establish Boundaries To Stay on Track<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some boundaries are good as they ensure you don\u2019t cross the line. Think of what is offensive to the person you\u2019re talking about. While creating the post, make sure you never touch this topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Be Vague and Don\u2019t Mention the Individual While Crafting the Tweet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have the guidelines, you can start writing the tweet. Make sure you\u2019re vague when describing the situation with an individual. The goal is to make people curious about who you\u2019re referring to in your post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" data-id=\"2643\" src=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/glenn-carstens-peters-npxXWgQ33ZQ-unsplash-4.jpg\" alt=\"A person uses a gray MacBook\u2019s keyboard to type in Google Docs.\n\" class=\"wp-image-2643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/glenn-carstens-peters-npxXWgQ33ZQ-unsplash-4.jpg 640w, https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/glenn-carstens-peters-npxXWgQ33ZQ-unsplash-4-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Reasons_Why_You_Should_Be_Careful_About_Posting_Subtweets\"><\/span>3 Reasons Why You Should Be Careful About Posting Subtweets<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. It Can Turn Into Cyberbullying<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The main reason why these posts have an air of negativity is because they can quickly turn into cyberbullying. Remember, if you don\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/how-to-protect-your-tweets-barring-intruders-on-x\/\">protect your posts<\/a>, every tweet you publish is public. Anyone on X can see the post even if they don\u2019t follow you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say a person figures out who you\u2019re talking about and tags them in the comment section. It quickly starts to gain traction, and everyone\u2019s replies focus on the individual.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this point, the targeted user will feel defenseless as people gang up against them. This can turn into <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cyberbullying\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cyberbullying<\/a>, which is harmful to the individual\u2019s mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. People Can Take it Out of Context<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another potential issue with these posts is that they remain on <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/twitter-archive-every-detail-about-your-data\/\">X\u2019s database<\/a> for years. This means new people may come across your subtweet and won\u2019t understand what you\u2019re talking about. They can take it out of context and attach a different meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you\u2019re applying for a new role in a company you always wanted to work for. The hiring manager does a background check on <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/how-is-twitter-aka-x-different-from-other-social-networks\/\">various social media platforms<\/a> to gauge your character.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They discover the cryptic post and assume you\u2019re being spiteful towards your previous company. This not only affects your reputation but also hinders your future career opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. It Can Make People Feel Negative Emotions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another issue with covert posts is that you don\u2019t have control over how people feel when they read your posts. The targeted individual may feel various negative emotions like anxiety, isolation, and bitterness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/sasha-freemind-Pv5WeEyxMWU-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"A person stands in front of a window and looks outside.\n\" class=\"wp-image-2645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/sasha-freemind-Pv5WeEyxMWU-unsplash.jpg 640w, https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/sasha-freemind-Pv5WeEyxMWU-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_TweetDelete_To_Remove_Bad_Subtweets_Before_They_Become_Problematic\"><\/span>Use TweetDelete To Remove Bad Subtweets Before They Become Problematic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You tried your hand at cryptic tweets, but they didn\u2019t pan out as expected. These posts have the potential to affect your reputation in the future. Remember, peoples\u2019 opinions about the world change with time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A bad post can become downright offensive over time, and you\u2019ll face significant backlash.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What if multiple cryptic tweets indirectly mention a specific individual? People can report your posts for breaking <a href=\"https:\/\/help.twitter.com\/en\/rules-and-policies\/abusive-behavior\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">X\u2019s abuse and harassment policy<\/a>. The social media giant may suspend your account or ask you to take down these tweets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t want to do this manually, there\u2019s always the auto-delete feature. Using the Twitter keywords you provide, this utility will easily find posts that fall under the subtweeting category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your profile only has these subliminal posts, you can delete all of them. You get a fresh start without <a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/how-to-create-a-second-twitter-account-a-quick-start-guide\/\">creating a second Twitter account<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/login\">Become a subscriber of TweetDelete<\/a> today and delete any post that can affect your reputation with a few clicks!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you keep hearing about subtweeting on Twitter, now X, but can\u2019t 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\u2019s discussion is to &#8230; <a title=\"Subtweeting on Twitter: The Art of Posting Cryptic Tweets\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/subtweeting-on-twitter\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Subtweeting on Twitter: The Art of Posting Cryptic Tweets\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,23],"tags":[],"coauthors":[14,13],"class_list":["post-2640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-category_1","category-cta-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2640"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5970,"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2640\/revisions\/5970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2640"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tweetdelete.net\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}