Twitter Resets Follower Count To Zero After 'Forced Follow' Bug Discovered (UPDATED)

UPDATED 2:02 PM ET: Twitter has started restoring users' follower counts. See how people reacted to the bug--and "zero follower" reset--below!
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Freaking out because you suddenly have zero followers on Twitter? No, you're not unpopular.

Twitter temporarily reset users' follow count to zero and suspended the follow/unfollow feature in order to address a bug that allowed people to force anyone to follow them.

Gizmodo spilled details on the "Forced Follow" bug, explaining in explicit detail how a Twitterer "could force any Twitter user--from Oprah to Kutcher--to follow you."

Shortly afterward, Twitter confirmed the bug via its news feed (@Twitter) and on its official Twitter status blog.

Twitter wrote,

We identified and resolved a bug that permitted a user to "force" other users to follow them. We're now working to rollback all abuse of the bug that took place. Follower/following numbers are currently at 0; we're aware and this too should shortly be resolved.

Twitter also noted that "protected updates did not become public as a result of this bug."

There was a tweet from Twitter at around 1PM ET notifying users, "Follow bug discovered, remedied."

Shortly after details on the auto-follow bug spread, users targeted celebrities on Twitter, like Lady GaGa (@LadyGaga) and Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien), to "force" them to follow their Tweets. As a screenshot from Mashable shows, the number of people followed by @ConanOBrien skyrocketed from just one to 194. Here's a glimpse of all the people that tried to exploit the bug to get Lady Gaga to follow them.

The tweets below highlight how some users reacted to the bug and Twitter's temporary fix. How did it affect you? Tell us in the comments section below! Check out HuffPost blogger Larry Magid's commentary on the bug then see the results of a recent study to find out whether Twitter followers really matter.

 

Seen other tweets about Twitter's "Forced Follow" bug that you think we should feature? Send them to us!

Twitter Reactions

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Comments

[Jeni O'Callaghan]

07:50 PM on 05/10/2010

Is there any truth to the Turkish Hacker meme on this? If there is, I apparently (but won't follow through on it) owe Justin Beiber (or however you spell it, I don't care) an apology for making fun of his "hordes of fans", whom the Turkish Hacker is supposed to fear.

No, none of that was typed with a straight face.

[shthar]

05:09 PM on 05/10/2010

Hmmm, I wonder who will be the first to reach a million followers now.

[Jeni O'Callaghan]

07:51 PM on 05/10/2010

I really hope it's me. Or @common_squirrel. That dude's got a lot of depth. He deserves it.

[OMG Ponies]

03:50 PM on 05/10/2010

This sucks!

I'm famous and now that a bunch of people twaped me, I have to listen to a bunch of nobodies on Twitter. It's an outrage. I demand someone be held accountable. Convene a Congressional investigation!

What's the point of becoming famous if you still have to listen to any yokel with an iPhone running Tweetie?!

[paulbenjouse]

03:17 PM on 05/10/2010

Just another example of the wild west landscape that is the internet.

[Randjamz]

01:53 PM on 05/10/2010

I thought someone was sabotaging my Twitter account;I am happy to know that they are on top of this "FORCE TO FOLLOW BUG"because I really don't want to follow certain celebrity individuals!!!"RJM"