Google to delete inactive accounts

Google will erase personal accounts not used in at least two years starting on Friday, Dec. 1. Accounts made for work or school will not be deleted. Accounts that have posted YouTube videos will also be saved, even if considered inactive. To prevent an account from being erased, log into that account before Friday.

Why is Google deleting accounts? Google is eliminating inactive accounts because they are more likely to be hacked. According to a blog post the company published in May, unused accounts often have old or reused passwords. They also tend not to have two-factor authentication, are not regularly maintained by the user, and are generally less secure.

Dig deeper: Read Emma Freire’s report in WORLD Magazine about artificial intelligence.