Google Announces to Delete Inactive Accounts, All You Need to Know

Kingsilva@beehaw.org to Technology@beehaw.org – 57 points – Google Announced to Delete Inactive Accounts: What You Need to Know
samrome58.substack.com

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

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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.

That feels okay to me?

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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.