Twitter locks account of news agency ANI for not meeting minimum age requirement

NEW DELHI: Official Twitter account of news agency ANI, with 7.6 million followers, has been locked. ANI chief Smita Prakash informed that the account was blocked citing that ANI doesn't meet age criteria. Smitha informed that the explanation received from Twitter was that the minimum age limit of 13 years was not met.

"So those who follow @ANI bad news, @Twitter has locked out India’s largest news agency which has 7.6 million followers and sent this mail - under 13 years of age! Our gold tick was taken away, substituted with blue tick and now locked out." Smitha tweeted about the incident, tagging Twitter CEO Elon Musk. Smita also shared the email sent by Twitter explaining the reason for blocking the account. The content of the email stated that a minimum age of 13 years is required to open a Twitter account and that failure to meet that standard will result in the account being removed.

So those who follow @ANI bad news, @Twitter has locked out India’s largest news agency which has 7.6 million followers and sent this mail - under 13 years of age! Our gold tick was taken away, substituted with blue tick and now locked out. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/sm8e765zr4

— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) April 29, 2023

After the news that Twitter has frozen the account of ANI, a leading media with bureaus outside India, many people have come forward with criticism. The main allegation is that such problems began to manifest on Twitter after Elon Musk took it over. Some have also come forward to criticize Musk's action of mass dismissal of employees. There are also warnings on social media that if more employees are not included, such problems will repeat themselves.