I think there’s 2 things researchers should not be doing on Twitter:

1- readers posting detailed reviews of a working paper/preprint, and

2- authors hyping a working paper/preprint to the point of discussing it with the media.

About 1: if you have comments about a wp, share them with the authors. That is the whole point of a wp. Don’t dunk on it. Even if you think the study is crap. There is a reputational price to pay for posting half baked work. No need to publicly shame others.

About 2: there is a reason we have a peer review process (w/ all its flaws). It gives public confidence on the science because other qualified peers checked the study. Is it perfect? No, but it protects our collective reputation as researchers.

Hyping a paper and bypassing the peer review process prior to talking to the media is short circuiting the system that protects us all. There are negative externalities to doing these stunts.

Now, if authors violate point 2, then I understand why some may be compelled to violate point 1 and live tweet their reviews.

If you tell me that the peer review in Econ is too slow, then don’t submit to an econ journal (or get in a leadership/editorial position to change things and lead).

Rushing research is like rushing an vaccine. You undermine the confidence in the process and it could turn out ugly.

End of the rant. Have a good day. Need to teach now.