Tech

Viral Email Claims Gmail will shut down on August 1

February 24, 2024
Ayhan

An email from Google has gone viral stating that Gmail will be shutting down on August 1.

The realistic-looking email was posted on X (formerly Twitter) and was titled “Google is shutting down Gmail.” The real statement was apparently directed to Gmail users informing all 2 billion account holders that “Gmail is coming to an end” as of August 1, and from that date it will no longer support “sending, receiving or storing emails.”

More from ForbesGoogle says new 'magical' Gmail security uses AI and it's hereby Davy Winder

“Until August 1, 2024, you will be able to access and download all of your emails,” the email said.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, many people have already taken this seriously. Not least because there have been real stories over the past few months regarding Google deleting old Gmail accounts and new rules for rejecting certain messages sent by bulk senders to Gmail accounts.

Add to that the fact that Google has some history when it comes to shutting down services that a lot of people find useful — remember Google Stadia, to name a few — and the email sent shockwaves through the X.

More from ForbesGoogle says new bulk opt-outs for Gmail will start in April 2024by Davy Winder

However, eagle-eyed readers will soon discover that the post on X has been flagged as manipulated media. the Manipulative media policy It states that posts containing media that has been “materially and deceptively altered, manipulated or fabricated” are prohibited. It appears that the statement that was circulated has already been amended. It was actually a modified version of Google's statement about getting rid of basic HTML display in Gmail messages.

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Although some may think such posts are just for fun, such misinformation can cause unwanted anxiety to users of the service. Google itself responded by posting on X with a message saying: “Gmail is here to stay.”

I've reached out to Google to get started and will update this article if soon.

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Davey is a four-decade technology journalist and contributing editor to PC Pro magazine, a position he has held since the first issue was published in 1994.

You can follow Davey on Mastodon, Twitter/X Most social networks as Happygeek.

Davey has spent more than 30 years as a freelance technology journalist. The published author of 25 books, Davy's work has appeared in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Observer, PC Pro, The Register, Infosecurity Magazine, SC Magazine, IT Pro and TechFinitive to name a few.

Along the way, he received a host of awards from his peers, including:

“Most Educational Content” (European Blogger Awards 2021) – “Cyber ​​Writer of the Year” (Security Serious Awards 2020) – “Enigma Award” (BT Security Awards 2011) – “Security Journalist of the Year” (2010 BT Security Awards) – “Security Journalist of the Year” (2008 BT Security Awards) – “Security Journalist of the Year” (2006 BT Security Awards) – “Technology Journalist of the Year” (1996 BT Technology Journalism Awards)

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