23 February 2024 , 08:31
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If you've seen a message on social media claiming that Gmail is about to close for good, don't panic. A fake warning went viral on X (formerly Twitter ) this week with millions viewing the worrying alert that appeared to have come from Google. Many were clearly left angered by the official-looking notice with one user named Daniel saying, "This insane, I hate this company" and another called Christain adding "Wow, Google is toast !"
It's no surprise that so many were duped with the tweet looking incredibly realistic - it even included Google's font and logos.
"We are reaching out to share an important update about Gmail," the message read.
"After years of connecting millions worldwide, enabling seamless communication, and fostering countless connections, the journey of Gmail is coming to a close.
“As of August 1, 2024, Gmail will officially be sunsetted, marking the end of its service. This means that as of this date, Gmail will no longer support sending, receiving, or storing emails."
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Gmail users saw this message online (X)Luckily, Google is not shutting down Gmail and your messages are totally safe. In response to the hoax, the tech giant simply said, "Gmail is here to stay."
It's thought that the fake message had been taken from an old message sent out by Google about the closure of its ageing HTML basics service and then adapted.
It's another reminder of why everyone should be careful before believing what they see on social media platforms and fake news can go viral fast.
The only way you'll actually lose your Gmail account is by not using it. Google has recently changed its rules with inactive accounts now getting removed by the firm after 24 months.
Google will warn users before this action takes place but it's a good idea to keep logging in if you don't want to lose access.