Become a Member ![\\"snopes](\\"/design/images/logo-main.png\\"/) Search My Profile Logout Submit a Rumor Latest Trending News & Politics Entertainment Fact Checks Quiz Sections Latest Trending Fact Checks News Collections More Contact Us Submit a Rumor Archives Quiz FactBot Newsletters About Us Categories News & Politics Entertainment Science & Technology Lifestyle Free accounts support our journalism Become a Member Login My Profile Logout ![\\"republican_symbol\\"](\\"/design/images/republican_symbol.png\\"/) Snopes fact-checked the vice presidential debate live! Read more here ![\\"democrat_symbol\\"](\\"/design/images/democrat_symbol.png\\"/) Fact Check # #SaveTwitter? Social Media Network Not Shutting Down in 2017 ## A spurious rumor holds that the Twitter social media platform will be shutting down in 2017 due to cyberbullying. ### Dan Evon ### Published Aug. 11, 2016 ![\\"\\"](\\" Claim: Twitter is shutting down in 2017 due to cyberbullying. Rating: False About this rating On 11 August 2016, the hashtag #SaveTwitter began trending on Twitter along with claims that the social media site was shutting down in 2017 due to cyber bullying: ![\\"tweet](\\" Advertisement: These rumors were unfounded. Twitter has not announced they will be shutting down their online social networking service in 2017. While we haven\'t been able to determine exactly how this rumor got started, a possible scenario has emerged. Twitter user @BradTheLagLong posted the hashtag #savetwitter along with a message about cyber bullying shortly before the hashtag went viral: > I apologize to those who love Twitter but the abuse I got on here was > disgusting and that is why action needed to be taken. #SaveTwitter > > — BradTheLadLong (@BradTheLadLong) August 11, 2016 Shortly after this message was posted, a picture of text blaming @BradTheLadLong for prompting Twitter to shut down began circulating > BRADTHELADLONG HAS MADE TWITTER CLOSE DOWN. WHAT A WANKER #SAVETWITTER > pic.twitter.com/VJ8VTYS12g — Queen Jorgie Porter (@Ollie_Ostrich) August 11, > 2016 Advertisement: These messages were sent around the same time that Twitter experienced an issue with follower counts and retweets: > Some people may have briefly experienced issues with their follower counts > and Retweets. This is now resolved, thanks for your patience! > > — Twitter Support (@Support) August 11, 2016 A story painting a dim financial picture for the social media site was also published a few days before the #savetwitter hashtag went viral: BizJournals wrote on 8 August 2016 that a \"struggling Twitter\" was subleasing space at its San Francisco headquarters. While Twitter explained in a statement that \"we’re always looking at ways to use our office spaces more efficiently and effectively,\" at least one user shared that story along with the #savetwitter hashtag: ![\\"save](\\" Advertisement: A viral tweet about cyberbullying, a brief hiccup with follower counts, and a news article about a \"struggling Twitter\" seemed to have merged to create a false rumor that Twitter would soon be closing up shop. Twitter has taken steps to address cyberbullying, but the company has not announced any plans to shut down completely over the issue: > Twitter is a thrilling place for teens. You can follow celebrities close > enough to step on their digital heels. You can be the first of your friends > to make a gif that goes viral. You can set up an account where you pretend > to be a pop star crossed with a philosopher — or even your dad’s ten-gallon > hat. Inanimate objects can have a voice, too, you know. Of course, all of > this fun assumes that you’re using Twitter safely. Below are a few > guidelines to help you do just that. ### By Dan Evon Dan Evon is a former writer for Snopes. ## Article Tags Twitter Facebook Fact Check Recommendations Advertisement: ![\\"Snopes.com\\"](\\"/design/images/logo-main.png\\") Company About Us FAQs Contact Us Submit a Topic Navigate Home Search Archive Newsletters Random Sections Latest Top Fact Checks News Account Join Login Game FactBot Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter © 1995 - 2024 by Snopes Media Group Inc. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com Terms of Use Privacy Policy DMCA Policy
Twitter is shutting down in 2017 due to cyberbullying