Seeing a padlock next to a Twitter account is confusing, especially if you’re new to this platform. What does the lock on Twitter mean, and what should you do when you see the icon?
Twitter has around 38 million users in America and more than 186 million active daily users globally. Not everyone wants to share everything with millions of people, so some users decide to add that padlock icon next to their profile and increase privacy. Below we get more into detail about what this means, how to do it, as well as the pros and cons of private accounts.
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Not everyone uses social media to put their entire life on display. When you create a Twitter account and check the Terms and services, you agree to a public profile. All Twitter profiles are public unless you decide otherwise.
Some Twitter users prefer privacy and only want to share content with people they know. The chances are you’ve seen the padlock icon next to many accounts, but do you know what it means?
The infamous lock icon says that the user’s profile is locked, and it’s not open for everyone. If you want to see their Tweets and accounts, they first have to approve your request. When you click on an account with a padlock, you’ll see that it’s different. There will be no Tweets, but there will be an option for you to follow them. If you previously started following this account before it became private, you can read their Tweets, but you can’t retweet or reply. Both individuals and businesses can use this feature.
Take a look at our other Twitter Questions:
You can protect your Twitter profile by making your account private. If you don’t take this step, you’ll only be sharing public Tweets. In other words, everyone will be able to see your content and engage.
Protecting your Tweets is an optional security measure that takes only seconds. If you’re a private person and want to interact with familiar faces, this is an excellent way to protect your privacy. However, businesses should look at things from a different angle. Let’s see which are the pros and cons of private accounts, and you’ll understand if it’s suitable for you.
Should you protect your account? Is it a wise step to take? It mainly depends on what you use your Twitter for, who you want to reach, and if you want to grow your follower count.
Is a private Twitter profile a good idea? If you’re using it for marketing, it’s not. But if this is an individual account and you’re a private person, you can use this privacy feature. With our step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to lock your Twitter account in a matter of seconds.
Some of the advantages of private Tweets are that they are best for people who are selective with their audience, want to use their account to share the news with a limited circle, and prevent fake followers. The disadvantages are that it can discourage people from following you, lower your engagement, and is not suitable for marketing.