Twitter users who have not accessed their account in a long time are encouraged to log in before December 11 or risk losing their handles.
Username availability is a growing problem in social media. Much like email before it, social media has now been around long enough that new users are increasingly struggling to find unclaimed handles. For example, if your name is John Smith, you cannot use @John or @JohnSmith or @TheJohnSmith on Twitter. You also probably can’t use @John_Smith, @JSmith, @J_Smith, or @The_John_Smith. Those names are already in use, and getting someone to surrender their handle is often an uphill battle that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Adding to the frustration is the fact that not all the usernames are in use. Someone claimed the name, but now the account sits dormant. Usernames that many would want, such as @AuxCord, sit unused on social media with abandoned accounts (or worse, accounts that never posted in the first place).
But a reckoning may be on the horizon. Twitter user Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) shared an email they received this week from the social media giant regarding an account he owns that has sat dormant for some time. In the email, Twitter informed Navarra he needed to agree to the company’s terms, privacy policy, and cookie use to continue using the platform. The letter also said they had until December 11, 2019, to access his dormant account. If Navarra failed to do so, they would risk losing their handle permanently.
Twitter is warning dormant account owners to log back in, or risk losing their account @-name pic.twitter.com/Xz9ykIDqid
— Matt Navarra (I quit X. Follow me on Threads) (@MattNavarra) November 26, 2019
Navarra, wanting to retain the dormant account, logged into Twitter using a link in the email and captured the prompts that appeared:
— Matt Navarra (I quit X. Follow me on Threads) (@MattNavarra) November 26, 2019
The decision to mass delete dormant accounts will open hundreds, if not thousands of desirable usernames to the public. Such a move would boost interest in the social media platform and likely lead to a rise in new accounts, not to mention increased engagement.
Twitter has not publicly commented on Navarra’s tweets or officially announced plans to remove dormant accounts. That said, the company is well within its rights to delete accounts that do not agree to Twitter’s new terms, privacy policy, and cookie use.
Readers hoping to claim a dormant account when they become available should consider using Handlescout. The service, which is free, tracks username availability on Twitter and sends email alerts when desired handles become available.
The following post was created by our personal hero, Christopher Biachi. Heed his advice.
For many years it’s proven time and again a pure mystery of sorts. Every day I’d log in to twitter, post my tweet and read around- always coming across the accounts with those different blue things next to the name. After doing a quick google search and finding out what it was, I was immediately intrigued. The almighty twitter badge. How could I myself as well as my artists achieve this I thought?
After a bit further obsessively researching- I found a seemingly repeating pattern on almost EVERY PAGE that had to do with the one golden question… “How Do I Get Verified On Twitter?” with the end result being little to nothing at all. Still leaving the reader completely in the dark. No real direction.
I’m writing to speak of my journey and how it ended up working out for me. To let you know that with a little bit of luck, persistence and determination- The puzzle CAN BE SOLVED.
To begin let’s take a look at the qualifications to having a verified account:
“Twitter verifies accounts on an ongoing basis to make it easier for users to find who they’re looking for. We concentrate on highly sought users in music, acting, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports, business and other key interest areas. We are constantly updating our requirements for verification. Note, verification does not factor in follower count or Tweet count.”
I’ve personally come across people who swore up and down the amount of followers you had- would depend on if you could get verified. Well the statement above proves that to be an incorrect assumption. They also make sure to state this:
“We do not accept requests for verification from the general public. If you fall under one of the above categories and your Twitter account meets our qualifications for verification, we may contact you in the future.”
Now this IS another true statement. Anyone can’t just reach out to twitter and expect to be verified. I’ve also heard the rumor that if a verified profile DM’s the Verified page that your account can be verified. I have NEVER seen that happen.
“Why hasn’t my account been verified? If you think you meet the criteria for verification and have not yet received a badge, please be patient. We are working within key interest areas to verify accounts that are sought after by other Twitter users.”
Upon further research I was able to dig up a friend of a friend who happened to work at the platform. They were able to help guide me in the right direction- that was our “in” From those few hints I was able to unlock the puzzle. With that being said, there ARE certain qualifications for each brand in order to be considered. Since I specialize in the Music department that is where our focus was for this process.
If you are a signed artist and or touring on a regular basis- this can and will help!
It never hurts to buddy up with your publicist or your record label 🙂 They might have the magic ticket.
I will say that they were high traffic profiles but had no advertising budgets spent, nor did our clients need to be “Kardashian famous”. It was a matter of having the proper items in place, timing and ensuring that the platform is ACTUALLY USED and INTERACTED WITH. That is a BIG KEY!
At the end of the day- if you seek, you can find.
To get you started- here are your puzzle clue’s:
1. Use the platform regularly! Support your post, use hashtags and interact with fans! This let’s Twitter know that you actually use and enjoy what it has to offer.
2. Being a signed or notable musician is a BIG KEY. Again from my outlook as I work with musicians for my career. Proving who you are and what you have done will help greatly!
3. Find an expert. Again as a musician or artist perhaps barking up the Publicist tree, the record label or the companies Social Media wizard can help you.
4. The form. That is all there is to say on this topic. It might still exist and might still work. If you are every lucky enough to meet the right person with granted access- befriend them for help.
While this does not give away the EXACT answer to the ultimate mystery. Some things are better left unsaid and when or IF the time if right for you, then the badge will come! Can you solve the mystery?!
I’ve heard as of recent that twitter will offer the verified badge to any page for $1.00 per year in the upcoming future.
What do YOU think of this and would you buy it if everyone had access then?
Christopher Bianchi is an Artist Manager at Mercenary Management who has been involved with the business side of music since he was just 14. Now in his late twenties, Chris lives with his wife, Kayla, in Ohio and spends his days helping artists of all sizes reach the next level(s) in their careers.
