Over the past week we've seen a noticeable uptick in men joining, following dozens of accounts with female avatars, and then messaging them directly.
Some appear to be real people, some are fake accounts with stolen identities.
Either way, this is stalking and harassing behaviour, and we have zero tolerance for it.
For those affected by accounts we fail to catch, please report them. We _will_ take action, and you'll help keep the community safe and welcoming for all.
Diolch.
@jaz Just to confirm 'Messaging them direct' is DM them which isn't the same as replying to a toot?
I hope I haven't inadvertently upset anyone by replying or following anyone.
I tend to follow the content I like and follow the account if it's interesting. The name/gender/religion doesn't come into the equation.
@TedWard public replies when replies are solicited should be fine, but there's always the added danger of being Reply Guy
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=reply%20guy
Be nice, be mindful, be respectful of people's space.
And especially respectful of their inbox.
1. A man who behaves in an overly familiar way and is always replying to the social media messages of a woman he doesn't know or is barely acquainted with. 2. An annoying man who replies to social media messages, in general - whether this annoyance is due to a perceived know-it-all attitude, excessive familiarity, banal arguments that the annoyed user doesn't feel compelled to reply to again and again, or violation of some imagined pecking order.
jaz 
Ted Ward