In the midst of circulating rumors about the potential closure of Gmail services, Google has clarified on the X social media platform, reassuring its users that Gmail is here to stay. According to the information released, Gmail services will continue as usual, just like before. However, it’s important to note that prior to this clarification, a post had gone viral on X, claiming that the tech giant Google was planning to shut down Gmail later this year. The post included a screenshot of an email, alleging that Gmail would cease to operate after August 1, 2024.
The Viral Post
The rumors initially surfaced with a fake image on social media, designed to resemble an official email from Gmail. The viral post claimed that Google was preparing to shut down Gmail by the end of this year. This image was spreading across various social media platforms, including TikTok, alongside other similar posts. Some reports suggest that these rumors originated from the social media platform TikTok. Allegedly, some posts claimed that Google was planning to shut down Gmail due to ongoing criticism related to the generation of Gemini images.
According to the viral post, “After years of connecting millions of people worldwide, enabling seamless communication without interruption, and fostering countless connections, Gmail’s journey is coming to an end.” Furthermore, it mentioned that from August 1, 2024, Gmail would officially shut down, and all its services would be discontinued, including sending, receiving, or storing emails.
Gmail’s HTML View
Following the spread of this false news, social media witnessed a surge in user reactions, with Gmail users expressing their concerns. The hashtag #Gmail started trending along with discussions and debates. It’s worth noting that Google had previously announced the discontinuation of Gmail’s classic HTML view in 2024. However, the company altered its message to users, clarifying that the claim of Gmail shutdown was false.
Google’s recent clarification on X has put an end to the baseless rumors surrounding the potential shutdown of Gmail. The misinformation had caused quite a stir among users, highlighting the importance of verifying information before accepting viral news as factual.