By now, you might know about Twitter's hidden reply function. It basically gives users the opportunity to "hide" a reply so it doesn't appear below their tweet, though it can be viewed in a separate area.
When someone hides replies to their tweet, Twitter REALLY wants you to know they did.
These tweets can still be seen by other Twitter users if they choose to see hidden replies.
And last week, MTV tweeted in celebration of Rihanna's album Anti turning 4 which, naturally, got a lot of engagement. They also tagged Rihanna's Twitter handle in the tweet.
4 years ago, @rihanna dropped #Anti and changed our lives.
But then people started noticing that MTV had hidden a reply to the tweet. The hidden tweet was from Twitter user @Freebird8626 sharing her crowdfunding page, asking Rihannas to help raise awareness of their cause.
Speaking to BuzzFeed News the 33-year-old woodworker, who asked not to be named, said that she didn't know her reply had been hidden by MTV until other Twitter users notified her.
@MTV @rihanna As a longtime fan, I'm reaching out asking for help in funding the spinal cord stimulator I desperately need! Any amount helps, and sharing is equally wonderful! I am so grateful. All my best to you β€οΈ please RT! https://t.co/Nfq95OfxSY
She said: "Well, I was honestly a bit shocked. I've never heard of a GoFundMe being hidden on Twitter.
"Part of me is a bit angry, because we all know the state of America's healthcare system, and people make GoFundMe accounts for silly things like vacations and electronics and lottery tickets, and have no trouble being funded."
She has also tweeted other high-profile Twitter accounts to increase donations. It's a common strategy used by people online when crowdfunding money or wanting to raise awareness to a cause, a particular account, or even a service.
She said: "I just thought it would be a good way to broaden my campaign. But part of me understands that they might have been trying to protect Rihanna from weird people trying to contact her.
"I wasn't intending to be weird. I just got advice from a friend to try contacting celebrities I was a fan of to see if they would donate. I meant no harm. And it sort of blew up on Twitter."
@Freebird8626 said she has a rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS. She said she got it after an injury at work a year ago.
People were angry the tweet was hidden saying it was "horrible" to do that to "someone who is in need".
whoever runs this account is horrible. you hid a reply from someone who is in need. let me guess the defense would be "i-its off-topic!!11" right? mate, literally no one cares if its off-topic, its the mtv account. https://t.co/mqTgHbmj50
And they wondered if MTV was aware that their hidden replies were still able to be seen.
did mtv forget that you can see hidden replies... https://t.co/1ec4McDeyL
@MTV @rihanna You do know we can see the hidden reply right??
Other people who have been diagnosed with CRPS started replying to the tweet in solidarity.
@Freebird8626 @jocelynxsanchez @MTV @rihanna Im actually in tears.. I was diagnosed with CRPS after a rope wrapped around my hand and pulled by a boat and then being attacked by a dog at work.. Iβve NEVER come across anyone with my symptoms! No specialist have been able to stop it and Iβm slowly loosing my hand
@Freebird8626 @neilhimself @LdnBkshopCrawl @giveabookorg I also have CRPS but itβs in my feet so I can barely walk. I hope you get the funding to help you get some relief! Itβs a horrible condition
Since the issue was raised online, she said people have been donating money anyway, and that she's grateful for all the support.
MTV has not responded to our requests for comment.