Twitter will purge around 1.5 billion inactive accounts to free up usernames

[CyberTech]

Content source

https://www.neowin.net/news/twitter-will-purge-around-15-billion-inactive-accounts-to-free-up-usernames/

Twitter is planning to delete 1.5 billion inactive accounts in order to make usernames or handles available again on the platform, according to a tweet from owner Elon Musk. The deleted accounts will reportedly be those that have been inactive for years and have no tweets associated with them. Musk said the move will free up the "name space" on the platform.



Elon Musk has previously pledged to remove inactive accounts from Twitter, announcing in November that accounts that had been inactive for 15 years would be deleted. It is currently unclear how long an account must be inactive before it is flagged for deletion. Musk had also suggested that accounts that had been dormant for over a year might also be targeted.

Musk, in a separate tweet, also said that Twitter is developing a process that will inform users if their tweets have been suppressed through a practice known as "shadow banning." Users will be able to appeal the ban if they are notified that their tweets have been suppressed. He also mentioned that Twitter is working on a software update that will show users their true account status.

While on the subject of shadow banning, Elon Musk released the second iteration of the "Twitter Files," in which he made new allegations against the former CEO of Twitter and other members of the company.

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Twitter will purge around 1.5 billion inactive accounts to free up usernames

Twitter CEO Elon Musk has announced that the social media platform will delete 1.5 billion inactive accounts that haven't logged in or tweeted from, to free up usernames and handles.

www.neowin.net

 

[codswollip]

BRAVO! Now my abandoned accounts will finally be wiped from the nether heavens.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

BRAVO! Now my abandoned accounts will finally be wiped from the nether heavens.

This is bad news and will make things harder to keep your identity safe, I do not like this move. Give users the option to keep their personal account active.

Most people who have dormant twitter accounts with their real name have so in order to avoid people using usernames that can impersonate and typo squat them and then be used for nefarious purposes. Even if you don't have an active account on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn it's good security practice to register an account with them using your real name so no one else can impersonate you down the road.

 

[dinosaur07]

I am also saying that the effects of this move are not in the way they meant to be if they serve a fair cause. It won't make users active but it could cause more problems as @Zero Knowledge noted above.

 

[monkeylove]

Maybe there's a cost for maintaining accounts, so if you don't use it, you lose it. If you don't want to lose it, then use it, or maybe subscribe for verification.

 

[Ink]

Maybe there's a cost for maintaining accounts, so if you don't use it, you lose it. If you don't want to lose it, then use it, or maybe subscribe for verification.

What about memorial accounts?

 

[monkeylove]

What about memorial accounts?

Loved ones will probably have to subscribe.