Google Announced to Delete Inactive Accounts: What You Need to Know
samrome58.substack.com
Google has recently announced an update to its Inactive Google Account Policy, which will result in the deletion of millions of inactive accounts that have been untouched for at least two years. This move aims to address the security risks associated with abandoned accounts. So, Let’s delve into the details of Google's revised policy and its implications for users.

Google decides to delete any account that has two years of inactivity. See how they decide to go about it.

  • bedrooms@kbin.social
    27·
    8 months ago

    Exception for YouTube Video Posters:

    Notably, any account that has posted one or more videos on YouTube will be exempt from the account purge, regardless of the period of inactivity. This exception ensures that users who have contributed content to the platform will not lose their accounts.

  • HeyLow@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    17·
    8 months ago

    I hope this doesn’t mean they will be opening up the email addresses for use after they delete/clear them

    • Otter@lemmy.caEnglish
      13·
      8 months ago

      I think that would be a security nightmare, so they probably won’t (and they’ll probably be forced to not do it if they try)

    • muhyb@programming.dev
      5·
      8 months ago

      When deleting a Google account, they warn you about your username won’t be reclaimable. So I assume this will be the same.

  • liv@beehaw.orgEnglish
    8·
    8 months ago

    I thought they had already done it. I got the notification months ago.

  • nope@jlai.lu
    8·
    8 months ago

    an inactive Google account is one that has not been used for a continuous period of two years. Google defines “activity” as actions such as signing in to read or send emails, using Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, sharing photos, or downloading apps.

      • averyminya@beehaw.org
        3·
        8 months ago

        It is, though 2 years is a little short. I just got back into my very first Yahoo e-mail not long ago and that wouldn’t have been possible with a policy like this.

        But, they have so many that have been stagnant for so long so I’m not really faulting them for this particular move.

        • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
          2·
          8 months ago

          Microsoft killed off my pre-MS Hotmail account years back. Google’s got lots of company with the 2 years rule.

    • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
      3·
      8 months ago

      Signing in to what, though?

      I have one account that only ever gets used via a third party email client. When I check my email, am I “signing in” by Google’s definition or not?

      • 77slevin@sopuli.xyz
        4·
        8 months ago

        Yes, your 3rd party email client uses your username and password to SIGN IN, which constitutes as signing in for Google.

        • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
          1·
          8 months ago

          Are you sure? I’ve had accounts before where only signing in to the official web UI or client counted (because that’s where they showed ads and grabbed telemetry).

          So while WE would consider using third party clients to be signing in, THEY may define it differently.

    • bedrooms@kbin.social
      1·
      8 months ago

      Oof. What do I do with all those websites referring to my other gmail account I never use… I don’t want my main gmail to receive these messages.

  • TroublesomeTalker@feddit.ukEnglish
    6·
    8 months ago

    So. Years back. When they did that ad where parents sent a kid emails to their own Gmail and then gave them the account details when they were grown up… Everyone who ever did that are gonna lose all their work if they don’t think to log in periodically. Nice.