Twitter is an excellent way and platform for sharing your opinion with a bigger mass. But what if you don’t want everyone to be able to see your Tweets?
In this article, we’ll show you how to make your Twitter account private from all possible devices used for logging in.
Keep in mind that this will result in less exposure, but if privacy is what you’re looking for – read on!
What Does ‘Private’ Mean on Twitter?
Going ‘private’ conveys a different meaning on various social media sites and networks.
Therefore, before you take further steps into making your Twitter account private, we suggest you go over these bullet points.
Let’s have a look:
- People need to make a request, i.e., send you one to follow you. This means that the growth of your audience will significantly depend on your personal consent.
- Your Tweets will be available only to the people you permit to follow you.
- Retweets won’t be available outside your approved network of followers.
- Google searches will NOT generate your Tweets, no matter the hashtags and relevance of what you Tweet.
- Your @replies will not be visible – Imagine trying to comment on a celebrity or an influential person on their Tweets and actions. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be able to see it — because they are NOT following you.
So, one of the downsides is that your ‘voice’ won’t be heard aloud by everyone.
- If you were public before – all your previous Tweets, comments, and posts will also become private, hence, no longer visible.
- You will have a ‘padlock icon’ next to your profile – this will tell the rest of the Twitter audience that your profile is private.
How To Make Twitter Account Private on iPhone/ iPad?
Since we’ve laid out the consequences of your potential actions, we can move further with the “how-tos” instead of ‘whats’ and ‘whys.’
- Open your Twitter app and tap on your profile icon.
- From here, choose Settings and privacy.
3. Next, choose Privacy and safety and scroll to Protect your Tweets.
4. Toggle ON, and be aware that you’ll start receiving follow requests (from now on). This means that you won’t have such extensive exposure to your posts, even those you’ve previously made.
How To Make Twitter Account Private on Android?
If you’re an Android user, here are the basic steps to make your Twitter account private and add that padlock next to your Twitter username:
- Open the Twitter app on your Android device and tap on the hamburger menu.
2. Tap on Settings and privacy, and then find Privacy and safety.
3. Toggle ON the Protect your Tweets option.
As you can see, making your Twitter account private is actually done by protecting your Tweets. And the approach is entirely the same on both iPhone and Android devices. That said, you shouldn’t have any problem solving this issue.
How To Make Twitter Account Private on Desktop?
Accessing Twitter via a desktop device (PC or Mac) is slightly different than accessing it through an app.
But, nothing to worry about – we have you covered even in this field:
- Go to Twitter from your preferred web browser (Google, Internet Explorer).
- Log in to your account > on the left vertical sidebar, tap on the three dots (More).
3. Here, select Settings and privacy, and choose Privacy and safety.
4. From your Twitter activity, choose Audience and Tagging.
5. In the Protect your Tweets field, checkmark the box by clicking on it.
6. In the end, click Protect to finalize your actions and intents.
How To Make Twitter Account Public?
Change of heart? It’s alright – it happens to everyone. In brief, it’s the same process as making it private, but the other way around.
- Follow the same steps when logging into your Twitter account (from your mobile device or desktop).
- Before exiting, leave the Protect your Tweets toggle OFF or un-check the box if accessing Twitter via desktop.
Some Finishing Words
To wrap it up – by making your Twitter account private, you’re “lowering the volume of your voice.”
Since Twitter is a platform of ‘free speech’ and is mainly used to express opinions, instead share media and fun activities, by going private on Twitter, you’re willingly becoming ‘less active.’
All in all, if you want to protect your privacy on Twitter, remember that you’re about to make less impact than before.
