Twitter has started sending out emails to owners of inactive accounts for six months, in an effort to free their space and free up usernames. This is a warning to inactive users about the danger of their accounts being junked. But as long as you stay active you should be safe. This is not an unusual activity for social media platforms. Yahoo did an account clean up back in 2013.
This email from twitter read as follows:
Hello,To continue using Twitter, you’ll need to agree to the current Terms, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Use. This not only lets you make the best decisions about the information that you share with us, it also allows you to keep using your Twitter account. But first, you need to log in and follow the on-screen prompts before Dec. 11, 2019, otherwise your account will be removed from Twitter.
In a conversation with The Verge, the company said:
“As part of our commitment to serve the public conversation, we’re working to clean up inactive accounts to present more accurate, credible information people can trust across Twitter. Part of this effort is encouraging people to actively log-in and use Twitter when they register an account, as stated in our inactive accounts policy,” a spokesperson said. “We have begun proactive outreach to many accounts who have not logged into Twitter in over six months to inform them that their accounts may be permanently removed due to prolonged inactivity.”
Twitter hasn't yet said exactly when the removal process will be completed. It expected to happen over many months. Those who have abandoned the platform won't be affected. Also, there won't be a gold rush for new account names on December 12. Only those who fail to log in before December 11 will have their accounts removed and the usernames can be taken by anyone.
Another shot at the username you've always wanted? - While this could be a chance for users to claim the username that they have always wanted, others noted that the move would also wipe Twitter of accounts formerly used by the deceased.
Everyone reacting to this like "this is great now I can finally be @waluigi" rather than focusing on how this is going to wipe out the digital legacies of deceased tweeters, as well as removing historical accounts. https://t.co/NcpJRp0NWJ— General Elainovision 2019 (@scattermoon) November 26, 2019
Finally, usernames under five characters can no longer be registered on Twitter, so if you are thinking of switching to a username you've always wanted you should consider this. Are you going to stick to your current username or you are going for another?
Updated on 11/28/2019
Despite the clarification, it does not say when it plans to have to memorialize accounts available. Twitter also says the account removal will focus on the EU to start - due to General Data Protection and Regulation (GDPR) and expected to expand to other countries later. When this policy is enforced, many users should expect to see their followers drop as accounts start vanishing.
Updated on 11/28/2019
Twitter halts plan to remove inactive accounts
Twitter will now delay deleting inactive accounts to decide on how to respect dead users. This follows the concerns that were raised about deceased users. The company has sent out a tweet to clarify the policy.We’ve heard you on the impact that this would have on the accounts of the deceased. This was a miss on our part. We will not be removing any inactive accounts until we create a new way for people to memorialize accounts.— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 27, 2019
Despite the clarification, it does not say when it plans to have to memorialize accounts available. Twitter also says the account removal will focus on the EU to start - due to General Data Protection and Regulation (GDPR) and expected to expand to other countries later. When this policy is enforced, many users should expect to see their followers drop as accounts start vanishing.
We’ve heard your feedback about our effort to delete inactive accounts and want to respond and clarify. Here’s what’s happening:— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 27, 2019