No need to #SaveTwitter, micro-blogging site shoots down rumours of closure | HT Tech

No need to #SaveTwitter, micro-blogging site shoots down rumours of closure

Twitter Inc denied on Thursday rumours that the social media messaging service will be shutting down in 2017, denouncing the claim as groundless.

By: REUTERS
| Updated on: Aug 12 2016, 01:06 IST
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Social media started buzzing with the hashtag #SaveTwitter early on Thursday, with more than 1,00,000 tweets mentioning the hashtag by early afternoon, after rumours spread of the social media giant shutting down next year. (Reuters File Photo)
image caption
Social media started buzzing with the hashtag #SaveTwitter early on Thursday, with more than 1,00,000 tweets mentioning the hashtag by early afternoon, after rumours spread of the social media giant shutting down next year. (Reuters File Photo)

Twitter Inc denied on Thursday rumours that the social media messaging service will be shutting down in 2017, denouncing the claim as groundless.

"There is absolutely no truth to the claims whatsoever," a spokesman for Twitter said in an emailed response to a Reuters request for comment.

Social media started buzzing with the hashtag #SaveTwitter early on Thursday, with more than 1,00,000 tweets mentioning the hashtag by early afternoon. It was unclear how the rumour started although some tweets said it originated from a Twitter user who complained about online bullying and Twitter's poor handling of such abuses.

Twitter has been criticised for not doing enough to police abusive behaviour on the messaging service, and has struggled to find the right balance between free expression and blocking violent or hateful speech.

Last month, Twitter permanently suspended a number of user accounts for harassment, including that of Breitbart tech editor Milo Yiannopoulos, vowing to redouble efforts to thwart abusive behaviour and block repeat offenders from the social media site.

Twitter shares rose 3.6 percent to $19.73 at mid-afternoon.

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First Published Date: 12 Aug, 00:49 IST
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