There’s no questioning the benefits of Twitter. It’s a convenient way to get your memes, world news, and pop culture hot takes all in one place.
But being an active Twitter user requires sifting through a daily deluge of toxic characters, including QAnon, white supremacists, bots, deepfakes, and more (although you can’t find Donald Trump there any more). Plus, there’s no denying the stress and anxiety that the fast pace of Twitter’s news cycle, and the strain of constantly debating reply guys, can bring.
Hear me out on this: you don’t actually have to use Twitter. I know it might seem like everyone else is using it, but you can be the change you want to see in the world. You can just delete your account.
Don’t worry: it doesn’t have to be permanent. If you find yourself feeling empty and directionless after doing this, you can get your account back up to 30 days after the fact. But if it ever gets to be too much again, just come back to this article and follow the steps. There’s a whole world outside of your timeline to explore.
Deactivate your Twitter account in a browser
If you’re on a computer or in a mobile browser, go to Twitter.com and log in to your account. To deactivate:
On the web, click the “More” item on the bottom-left of the screen. On the mobile browser, tap your profile icon. Select “Settings and Privacy” and then “Your account” Select “Settings and Privacy” and then “Your account.” At the bottom of the list, tap “Deactivate your account”
At the bottom of the list, tap “Deactivate your account.” Go to the bottom of the page to find the “Deactivate” link
There’s going to be a lot of information on the page before you get to that link, some of it pretty useful. There’s a full description of what will no longer be viewable (your display name, @username, and public profile), an assurance that you can restore your account “for some time” if it was accidentally or wrongfully deleted, and a way to reactivate after 30 days or 12 months (useful if you’re being besieged and want to take a vacation from Twitter rather than delete your account entirely).
There are a lot of options to choose from before you reach the “Deactivate” link.
There are also links if you just want to change your name, use your current name with a different account, or download your Twitter data. This last one is always a good idea before you delete any account; here’s the link.
Deactivate your Twitter account in the Twitter app
If you’re using a smartphone, go to the Twitter app and make sure you’re logged in.
Tap the three-line hamburger icon in the top-left corner. A menu will pop out from the side. Tap “Settings and privacy” on the bottom. Tap “Account” at the top. In the account settings page, select “Deactivate your account” at the bottom Grid View
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