X Blocks Users from Posting Signal.me Links

In a surprising move, X (formerly Twitter) has started blocking users from posting links to Signal.me, a domain used for quickly and securely connecting with Signal users. When attempting to share these links, users receive a range of error messages, with some indicating that the content is classified as spam, harmful, or even malicious.

What’s Happening?

Reports first emerged when journalist Matt Binder noticed that Signal.me links were being blocked. Users trying to share these links in posts, direct messages, or even their profile bios are met with failure notifications. Some users see a vague “something went wrong” message, while others are told the content violates platform policies.

Interestingly, links to Signal.org—the official domain of the messaging service—are unaffected. Other similar services, such as Telegram, also remain unblocked.

Why It Matters

Signal is widely used by journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious individuals to exchange sensitive information securely. The service’s end-to-end encryption ensures messages remain private and stored only on user devices. Its importance has only grown in recent weeks, with federal whistleblowers reportedly using Signal to communicate with the press about government activities.

By blocking Signal.me links, X is making it harder for users to share secure communication channels. Additionally, existing Signal.me links posted before the ban are now discouraged from being clicked, and users are prevented from adding them to their bios.

Pattern of Restrictions

This isn’t the first time X has restricted links to external platforms. In 2022, links to Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and other competing social networks were briefly blocked after Elon Musk attempted to curb “free advertising” of rival services. In 2023, Substack links were also throttled after the platform introduced a Twitter-like feature called “Notes.”

However, unlike previous cases, Signal is not a direct competitor to X. This raises concerns over why these blocks are occurring and whether they are intentional or a mistake.

Possible Workarounds

As of now, Signal user handles can still be posted on X, allowing users to manually copy and paste them into the Signal app. However, unless X reverses this decision, sharing secure communication links through the platform will remain a challenge.