Twitter is embarking on a mass cull of inactive users. The cull is set to begin on December 11, 2019, so if you haven’t signed into Twitter lately, you should do so right now. Unless you’re happy for Twitter to permanently delete your account.
Twitter Wants to Cull All Inactive Accounts
This cull is happening thanks to Twitter’s Inactive Account Policy. This states that in order to “keep your account active, be sure to log in and Tweet at least every 6 months.” Furthermore, “Accounts may be permanently removed due to prolonged inactivity.”
Twitter is emailing owners of accounts under threat. Which is anyone who hasn’t signed into Twitter for the past six months. The emails make it clear that Twitter wants you to “agree to the current Terms, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Use”.
More on Twitter's action on inactive accounts: The company is clawing back accounts that have been inactive for more than *six months*, which is likely a very large number. Inactive = user hasn't *logged in*. Seeking clarification on what happens to useful/fun bot accounts.
— Dave Lee (@DaveLeeBBC) November 26, 2019
In order to do that “you need to log in and follow the on-screen prompts before Dec. 11, 2019, otherwise your account will be removed from Twitter.” That date may not apply to all inactive accounts, but if you get an email you should definitely act fast.
What Happens to Twitter Users Who Have Died?
One wrinkle Twitter doesn’t seem to have considered is accounts belonging to people who have passed away. While Facebook offers family and friends a way to memorialize accounts for people who have died, Twitter currently doesn’t offer anything similar.
This means that relatives of people who have died could see their accounts disappear. That is unless they have access to it, and can log in and tweet from it. At the time of writing Twitter has only said that it’s “thinking about ways” to deal with this issue.
Twitter Usernames Will Become Available Again
This is bad news for Twitter users who don’t tweet very often. If that describes you, you need to log in and start tweeting by the cutoff or risk losing your account. However, it’s good news for the rest of us, as old usernames will soon become available again.
If you have fallen out of love with Twitter but want to start tweeting again, be sure to read our guide explaining how to use Twitter. It’s packed full of interesting information and advice that will help you get more out of Twitter, even if you’re just a casual user.
Image Credit: Andreas Eldh/Flickr
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