Skip to content
Translate Ideas and Comments
Choose language:
There was an error during translation
← Account Management

How can we improve the account management experience?

Account Management: Usernames / Display Names

Categories

JUMP TO ANOTHER FORUM

(thinking…)

Change the Recycle Program

The recycle program needs a massive overhaul.

There are far to many people waiting on unused usernames that are not released in a timely fashion.

I have been watching two names for years now. One is simply completely inactive with zero information on the profile and has never followed anyone, for years. That account also has never responded to private messages to even suggest someone logged in. **** I'd buy their account name from them if there was anyway I could contact them.

The other has the "Unless you have a time machine." message and may be an old twitch staff, or previous partner, but i have no way of knowing that. Can't they supply some reason to why I can't change to that name?

Such as: "This username is unavailable and is exempt from the recycle program"

Then in the FAQ they can just state the names that fall into this category are the old staff, partner.. etc names. So we know we won't get it. Transparency! And it wouldn't be difficult, Twitch I'm sure already has a list of names it will not release in its database, just tell us why.

I would like to suggest that there be way when we go to change our name and it says its "unavailable" for name change, that we can request a flag on it. That it can then be checked for activity and if it is actually inactive within the username recycle programs guidelines it can be put in an upcoming recycle. I'm sure this can be automated, Twitch can see if a name has logged in within six months or a year and if not then flag it, and actually do this, not like right now where inactive names MAY be recycled but probably won't be in any timely manner.

Inactive accounts under threat of recycle don't have to be deleted, you could just append the name with a bunch of random characters in case the owner comes back and you can be sure to send out multiple emails letting them know what is about to happen if they don't log in. Though this would defeat the purpose of clearing up space due to inactive accounts, at least you wouldn't be worried about someone not returning later because their name is gone.

They should also in some way be required to actually use the name. Why are some names taken but are not in use? Is there protection from possible name sellers? (Not that i've ever seen one for Twitch but its common in other areas, such as website urls, mmos usernames, social media handles) What if someone has taken a name and only logs in once a year on that alt account but that account has zero activity, they don't chat or watch any videos? Is that fair or right? Why is that allowed? Shouldn't that name be available for someone who will use it?

The current system suggests that inactive accounts will be recycled but it could take as little as six months or it could take years. We have no way of knowing when that will be or even if the name we want is eligible for recycle. I had a **** of time just getting twitch to tell me if Curse usernames from when Twitch bought Curse and automatically created accounts for them would be eligible to recycle. I was told all those names have already been recycled, but it took multiple emails and explaining on my end as the twitch staff responding just wanted to send me copy paste responses that never addressed my question.

Of course partners/affiliates and old staff names should be exempt from this to avoid possible fraud/impersonation.
170 votes

We're glad you're here

Please sign in to leave feedback
Signed in as (Sign out)
Close
Close

We’ll send you updates on this idea

Anonymous shared this idea  ·   ·  Report…  ·  Admin →
How important is this to you?

We're glad you're here

Please sign in to leave feedback
Signed in as (Sign out)
Close
Close

We're glad you're here

Please sign in to leave feedback
Signed in as (Sign out)
Close
Close
Submitting...
An error occurred while saving the comment
  • Still_Vill commented  ·   ·  Report

    3 years ago, I created StillVill as a new user name to secure it before I changed mine.

    I deleted it and waiting 6 months to change it.

    Nothing, still hadn’t released and no user has picked it up.

    3 years later I STILL CANT USE THAT NAME.

    Give us a request system to reclaim old user names ESPECIALLY if it was an account we created.

    Deleting the old account and renaming ours to it will save storage on your servers, and make your users happier with the ability to me more discoverable.
  • Fin_Aura commented  ·   ·  Report

    It appears as though my deleted account's username is still not available for use (Finn_Aura, so now using Fin_Aura), it kinda sucks since I also know others facing the same problem. It's been probably like a year but if there is nothing to be done, it is what it is.
  • Katrinaleeanne commented  ·   ·  Report

    I wish I could bump this post. The username I want, the person was banned in 2014. I don't understand why they won't recycle the username. It's not a bad word or anything. The person who had just got banned. Unfortunate.

  • lAvenirl commented  ·   ·  Report

    Ana, what if I became partnered? Can a resolution be met with that user? Maybe reaching out to see if they were okay with losing that name? If they don't respond in a certain time frame then consider them inactive?

  • lAvenirl commented  ·   ·  Report

    This has been said many times before but I want to say it again, because it doesn't seem to be getting across Twitch personnel at all. PLEASE fix this, usernames that haven't been in use since I started streaming 3 years ago will not be removed!

    I literally made my account 3 years ago and wanted the name Avenir but instead the username was taken by an inactive account apparently YEARS ago. No uploads, no videos, no past streams, NO FOLLOWERS, and yet I still can't get this username to go inactive.

    On top of this, I submitted a ticket to you guys multiple times about this issue and the same annoying automated response comes back to me: "User must be inactive 12 months consecutively in order for a username to go back into the pool" IT'S BEEN 3 YEARS.

    Twitch, please fix this so we can stop bombarding this forum with the same request repeatedly.

    VOTE ALL USERNAME REQUESTS FOR INACTIVE USERNAMES UP!!! They have to see this eventually!
  • peachykeene88 commented  ·   ·  Report

    I have been wanting to do an overhaul of my channel for awhile now, and want to get rid of the numbers on the end of my username. Since there is someone that has held onto the username I've wanted with no progress or anything on their channel since 2014, I don't think its fair for them to hold onto that! They should be released after a period of time!
  • nauticalpumpkins commented  ·   ·  Report

    Although it has already been proposed, I believe that profiles/usernames should be reset/deleted/deactivated due to inactivity. This proposal has been reviewed and is currently being used to a certain degree. I believe the length of inactivity until the account is deactivated should be shortened to maybe 6 or 8 months instead of an entire year-- preferably 8 months. Consequently, I believe the length of time necessary for the abandoned usernames to be recycled and returned should also be shortened. Perhaps, 3 or 4 months instead of 6 months. I believe this will prove to be more efficient and would satisfy the desires of twitch users.
    Thank you,
    H.H., Nautical.
  • azgoodaz commented  ·   ·  Report

    This is a horrible idea. And will cause a lot of hate within the community.

    Just take this to the console side on Xbox Live and PSN (even though they are not related to Twitch). Xbox Live nor PSN do not have expiration dates for usernames. Why? Because people are probably absent for X amount of months/years due to work, family issues, and/or active in the military. So now, what if one day you came back from the military, you sign back on Xbox Live or PSN 4 years later to play Video Games with your friends and it says "Sorry, you were inactive for over 1 year and someone took your gamertag. Free of charge on us, you can now pick a new Gamertag/id."

    Best way to go around this is to go by cleaning up accounts that have signed up on the site with fake emails aka bots and delete their username/account.

    If you are mad that someone took your username. Then make a better one because its not original then.
  • RamuneGaming commented  ·   ·  Report

    While it's a good idea for twitch to clean up fake/inactive/bot accounts I don't think this is the way to do it as this could end horribly for certain streamers. Some professional gamer streamers will go on tour for months at a time hell some even go away for a year to partake in tournaments and such. It would suck if they come back and your account is gone. Not to mention companies who only do an event once a year or once every 2 years.
  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    A great ideea sir. Twitch needs to clean up their stuff.
  • Raging_Hamster commented  ·   ·  Report

    Twitch name is very important for streamers, but often times many of the great usernames are already taken, sometimes by people who don't even use Twitch anymore. It would be great if there was a 6-month/1-year expiration time for usernames if they stop logging in, so that potential new streamers or users can capitalize on them. Think of it as website domains. Also some streamers are forced to add numbers to their desired name making it harder for viewers to remember, which is unfortunate. Lastly, I despise that RagingHamster user with 0 followed channels with the fury of a thousand suns!! >:O - Regards, Raging_Hamster