As the battle against online abuse rages on, Twitter has begun to place temporary restrictions on accounts deemed to be "potentially abusive".

Several Twitter users have expressed their frustration at receiving the 'time-outs' from the social media network. 

#PotentiallyAbusive is an excuse today @twitter is trying to limit my voice on their platform lets make sure they don't limit yours tomorrow pic.twitter.com/rcpVKmnlci

— Keith B. Still (@NaYaKnoMi) February 14, 2017

Users issued with the penalty face cut to the reach of the user's updates, making them only visible to their followers. 

Twitter states violent threats, harassment, hateful conduct, multiple account abuse, impersonation and the publishing of other people’s private information could warrant suspension.

“We believe in freedom of expression and in speaking truth to power, but that means little as an underlying philosophy if voices are silenced because people are afraid to speak up,” it says. 

“In order to ensure that people feel safe expressing diverse opinions and beliefs, we do not tolerate behavior that crosses the line into abuse, including behavior that harasses, intimidates, or uses fear to silence another user’s voice.”