X Suspends @twitter Handle Amid Rebranding Efforts
In a decisive move to solidify its rebranding, X has suspended the iconic @twitter handle, replacing its profile with a standard notice stating the account violates platform rules. This action, observed in early January 2026, has sparked discussions about the platform’s commitment to its new identity.
The @twitter account had remained inactive since before Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2022. Following the rebrand to X in 2023 and the domain shift to x.com in 2024, the handle symbolized the site’s former identity but saw no new activity.
Visitors to the @twitter page now encounter a black screen with white text: Account suspended X suspends accounts that violate Our Rules, mirroring notifications for other rule-breaking profiles.
Reports of the suspension emerged on January 11, 2026, with users noting the change and sharing screenshots. News outlets have interpreted this as a final step in erasing remnants of the Twitter brand, with the page redirecting users toward @x for updates.
While some observed similar notices months prior, the latest iteration appears permanent, lacking any appeal option typical for active accounts.
Social media reactions have been mixed, with some users expressing nostalgia. One post lamented, RIP Twitter, while others humorously noted X suspending its own history. AI chatbot Grok, developed by xAI, described the move as a deliberate effort to retire legacy branding rather than a true violation.
No official statement from X or Musk has addressed the specifics of the suspension, fueling theories ranging from trademark cleanup to automated moderation sweeps.
This suspension underscores X’s ongoing enforcement of its rules against spam, impersonation, and policy breaches, even for dormant profiles.
As Twitter lingers in everyday language years after the rebrand, this act closes a chapter, aligning the platform fully under its new identity. Cybersecurity experts note that such moderation aids brand integrity amid rising impersonation threats on social platforms.
