What is Twitter Spam? 
Spam is any unwelcomed solicitation. “Spam” describes a variety of prohibited behaviors which violate the Twitter Rules. Behaviors that constitute “spamming” will continue to evolve as Twitter responds to new tactics by spammers. Just like there is email spam, so too does Twitter have it's fair share of spammers.
Here are some common tactics that spam accounts often use:
- Posting harmful links (including links to phishing or malware sites)
- Aggressive following behavior (mass following and mass un-following for attention)
- Abusing the @reply or @mention function to post unwanted messages to users
- Creating multiple accounts (either manually or using automated tools)
- Spamming trending topics to try to grab attention
- Repeatedly posting duplicate updates
- Posting links with unrelated tweets
How Can I Tell if it is a Spammer?
It's exciting to get those emails that tell you someone new is following you on Twitter. However, not everyone in the Twittersphere is your friend! Here are some things to look for when you get a new follower.
Check Ratios - If you see any of the following, they may be a spammer:
- A profile significantly following more people than having followers
- Large numbers of followers/following without a significant number of comparable updates
- Large numbers of followers/following in a short period of time
Check tweets - Again, if you notice any of these, they may be a spammer:
- The percentage of updates which contain links
- The tone of their updates, particularly when links are included.
- How often they reply to other Twitter users
Check Reciprocity
- How often are they replying to others?
- How often are others replying back to them?
How Can I Stop Spammers?
Fortunately, that is pretty easy. There are videos that show how to block unwanted users but the best place to learn how to deal with Twitter spam is from the Twitter help files themselves! I have copied the information below from https://support.twitter.com/articles/64986-how-to-report-spam-on-twitter. There are also several websites that you can check out that are designed to help you target and eliminate spammers.
How Do I Report Spam?
If you think you’ve found a spam profile, follow these steps to report it:
1. Visit the Spam account’s profile
2. Click the Drop-Down actions menu box (see image below)
3. Click on “Report @username for spam.”
If you want to block a user, but not report them as spam, you can choose the "Block Username" option. You can always unblock people later on if you change your mind.
What Happens to Reported Accounts?
After you click the “report as spam” link Twitter will do the following:
- Block the user from following you or from replying to you.
- Twitter’s Trust and Safety Team will review the account.
You may not immediately or definitely see this account suspended.
The bottom line is - BE SMART and PAY ATTENTION to who you follow and who follows you! You get to control what you see and who sees what you post!