Tech

Don't adopt a new @name

You can't escape Twitter these days, but you can do your best to avoid it and for the past couple of years I've felt you should. Ultimately the service doesn't seem to be well thought-through and there are consequently all manner of traps for the unwary.

Today's example: consider renaming your Twitter account. I understand it's fairly easy to do, and that the system automatically ensures your "followers" keep track of your new name.

Unfortunately that simple operation frees up your old name to be taken by an imposter. So people who are used to referring to you as @myoldname will suddenly be directing messages at a total stranger.

There's another twist: imagine you've got your own website, and that messages from your Twitter account are automatically shown on your home page. If you forget to update your site to use the new name you'll have instantly given the imposter the ability to publish whatever they like on your website.

And if you think this is unlikely to occur in practice, check out @NadineDorriesMP's transformation into @Nadine4MP and her blog.

My advice? If you have to use Twitter, think very carefully before you change your account name.