What happens when you sign up for Twitter

When you create a Twitter account, you give the platform your email address or phone number, a password, a display name, and a username. Twitter (now called X) then collects everything else you do on the site: every post you write, every account you follow, every post you like, how long you spend reading, what device you use, and your location if you allow it. The company also buys data about you from data brokers — information about your income, shopping habits, and web browsing — and links it to your account.

Before you start, understand that Twitter's business model means your attention and your data are the product being sold. The platform makes money by selling ads targeted to you based on what it knows about you. This is free to you, but it costs you visibility into how your information moves and who sees it.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a working email address or phone number, a password you have not used elsewhere, and a username that will be public and permanent.
  • Twitter collects your posts, your follows, your likes, your location, and your device information, then buys additional data about you from third parties.
  • Your account settings let you limit who can message you and who can see your location, but Twitter itself will still see and store everything.
  • Deactivating your account takes 30 days to complete, and Twitter keeps your data for some time after that for legal and business reasons.

The step-by-step process to create your account

Go to twitter.com or open the Twitter app on your phone. Click the "Create account" button. Enter your email address or phone number — this is how Twitter will contact you if you forget your password. Enter your full name (this does not have to be your real name, but it is what appears on your profile). Choose a username — this is the handle people use to mention you, and it starts with @. Usernames are permanent once chosen, so pick one you are comfortable with long-term.

Create a password that is at least 8 characters long and uses uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not reuse a password from another account. Twitter will ask you to verify your email or phone number by sending you a code — check your email inbox or text messages and enter that code. You can then add a profile photo and a bio (a short description of yourself), but these are optional to get your free guide.

Twitter will ask you to choose your interests and follow some accounts. You can skip this step or follow accounts now — you can unfollow anyone at any time. Once you confirm your email or phone, your account is live.

What information Twitter requires versus what it asks for

Required information is what you must provide to create an account: an email address or phone number, a password, a display name, and a username. Twitter will not let you finish signup without these.

Optional information includes your phone number (if you used email), your location, your website, your birth date, and a profile photo and bio. You can add or skip all of these during signup and change them later in your account settings. However, Twitter recommends adding a phone number for account recovery — if you lose access to your email, a phone number is your backup way to prove you own the account.

Even if you do not provide optional information, Twitter still collects data about you through your behavior on the platform. Every post you write, every account you follow, every post you like, and every link you click tells Twitter something about your interests and habits.

Privacy settings that actually change what Twitter sees

Open your account settings by clicking your profile icon, then "Settings and privacy," then "Privacy and safety." Here you can make your account private, which means new followers need your permission to follow you. You can also control who can message you — the default is anyone, but you can limit it to people you follow or people who follow you.

Under "Data and privacy," you can turn off the setting that lets Twitter use your location. You can also turn off personalized ads, though Twitter will still show you ads — they just will not be based on your behavior and interests. Turning off personalized ads does not stop Twitter from collecting the data; it only stops Twitter from using it to target ads to you.

There is no setting that stops Twitter from collecting your posts, your follows, your likes, or your device information. These are core to how the platform works. If you want Twitter to collect less about you, the only option is to post less, follow fewer accounts, and like fewer posts.

What Twitter does with the information it collects

Twitter uses your data to show you a personalized feed — posts from accounts you follow, mixed with posts from accounts you do not follow but that Twitter thinks you will engage with. It uses your data to target ads to you. It shares your data with advertisers in the form of audience segments ("people interested in technology who live in California") without sharing your individual identity.

Twitter also sells access to its data through its API (process programming interface), which means researchers, journalists, and companies can buy access to large amounts of Twitter data for analysis. Your individual posts are public by default, so anyone can see them, read them, and analyze them. If your account is private, only your followers can see your posts, but Twitter itself still has full access.

Twitter keeps your data even after you deactivate your account. The company says it deletes your data within 30 days of deactivation, but it may keep some information longer for legal reasons or to comply with law enforcement requests.

How to change or delete your account later

To change your email address, phone number, password, username, or display name, go to "Settings and privacy," then "Account," then "Account information." You can change most of these at any time. Your username is permanent once chosen, so if you want a different one, you have to create a new account.

To deactivate your account, go to "Settings and privacy," then "Account," then "Deactivate your account." Twitter will ask you to confirm and will warn you that this action cannot be undone. Your account will be hidden when ready, but Twitter keeps your data for 30 days in case you change your mind and want to reactivate it. After 30 days, your account and most of your data are deleted, though Twitter may keep some information for legal or business reasons.

If you want to read your data before you deactivate, go to "Settings and privacy," then "Data and privacy," then "read your information." Twitter will prepare a file with your posts, your follows, your likes, and other account information, and email it to you within a few days.

Why Twitter asks for a phone number and what it does with it

Twitter asks for a phone number for two reasons: account recovery and security. If you forget your password or lose access to your email, a phone number lets you prove you own the account and regain access. Twitter also uses phone numbers to detect and prevent spam and fake accounts — if many accounts are created from the same phone number, Twitter flags them as suspicious.

Twitter also uses your phone number to target ads and to link your account to other accounts or devices you own. If you use the same phone number to sign up for other services, Twitter may be able to connect those accounts to your Twitter profile. You can remove your phone number from your account at any time in "Settings and privacy," then "Account," then "Phone," but you will lose the account recovery option unless you have a backup email address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a Twitter account without giving my real name?

Yes. Your display name (the name that appears on your profile) does not have to be your real name. Your username (the @ handle) also does not have to match your real identity. However, you do need a real, working email address or phone number to verify your account, because Twitter uses this to confirm you are a real person and not a bot.

What happens if I use a fake email address?

Twitter will send a verification code to the email address you provide. If the address does not exist or you do not have access to it, you cannot complete signup. You will be stuck at the verification step. If you already created an account with a fake email and cannot access it, you will need to create a new account with a real email address.

Can I make my Twitter account completely private?

You can make your account private so that only people you approve can follow you and see your posts. However, Twitter itself still sees all your posts, your follows, your likes, and your behavior. Making your account private only controls who among other Twitter users can see your activity — it does not hide anything from Twitter the company.

Does Twitter sell my personal information to other companies?

Twitter does not sell your name and email address to other companies. However, it does sell advertisers access to audience segments based on your data — for example, "women aged 25-34 interested in fitness." It also sells access to its data through its API, so researchers and companies can analyze large amounts of Twitter data, including your public posts.

How long does Twitter keep my data after I delete my account?

Twitter says it deletes your account data within 30 days of deactivation. However, the company may keep some information longer for legal reasons, to comply with government requests, or to prevent fraud. Your public posts may also remain visible on other websites or in archives even after you delete your account, because other people can copy and share them.