X is selling existing users' handles

#1

Post by hac » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 8:11 PM UTC

I've been on Twitter since 2007 as @hac.

In recent years I didn't sign in frequently, then last week I saw my handle show up on the new X Handles marketplace.

It seems the account now belongs to X, and because I had a "rare handle" I can't even buy it back. From what I can tell, they will wait for some time and then auction the handle for around $100k.

Losing your account is frustrating. Having it sold to someone else doesn't feel right.

Of course, there is no warning when it happens. All you can do to prevent it is sign in every 30 days and read all changes to the TOS.

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#2

Post by stephenr » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 8:36 PM UTC

Or congratulate yourself on being divested long enough that they don't think you're coming back?

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#3

Post by ronsor » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 8:44 PM UTC

I think people sitting on a handle for 10-20 years without active use is annoying, so I'm fine with them taking them from dormant accounts. I think the selling is sketchy though.

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#4

Post by rahimnathwani » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 8:50 PM UTC

According to the X app:

- the user @hac has existed since 2008

- since then, it has posted 5 tweets totalling 14 words

- it does not follow any accounts

Is this your account, or is this a different account that recently took over the @hac username?

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#5

Post by al_borland » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 8:54 PM UTC

Dormant account reuse should be ok, assuming proper notice is given. Though 30 days is far too strict. A life event could leave someone offline for a month.

Selling I have an issue with, especially the arbitrary selling of “rare” handles. This leaves normal users stuck with junk names and encourages Twitter to be even more of a place for corporate communication above all else.

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#6

Post by Molitor5901 » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 9:05 PM UTC

I think that dormant accounts, where someone has not logged in for, say, 2 years, does not post, does not engage, should be repurposed - with given notice. It's kind of the equivalent of cybersquatting. Also, technically, a platform is within its right to do this. I think the better course of action is to utilize the account. Gmail has made this clear that if you don't log into an account after some time they will repurpose it.

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#7

Post by gdulli » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 9:06 PM UTC

It gets lost in the distracting partisan bickering over Musk/etc, but Twitter has gotten hostile and crappy in many ways like this that have nothing to do with politics. Imagine how much more hostile this action would have seemed in 2010. But now, people put up with it.

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#8

Post by surround » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 9:07 PM UTC

Your posts: https://twiiit.com/hac

2020 - "Ping"

2021 - "Pong"

2023 - "Boop."

2023 - "Bleep"

2023 - "will inventing new technology be the solution to our problems?"

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#9

Post by throwa356262 » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 9:08 PM UTC

Imagine this: you are hit by a car, spend 4 weeks in coma.

Wake up and can't even post one of those cool hospital selfies because Elon really needed that $100K...

Re: X is selling existing users' handles

#10

Post by Hamuko » Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 9:09 PM UTC

gdulli wrote: post #7

It gets lost in the distracting partisan bickering over Musk/etc, but Twitter has gotten hostile and crappy in many ways like this that have nothing to do with politics. Imagine how much more hostile this action would have seemed in 2010. But now, people put up with it.

Not really sure how much people really even put up with it. I just went to Bluesky once I got an invite, and I've generally noticed my cohorts migrating there over time too. Sure, some content isn't there, but a smaller social media better than beating your head against the wall.