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Google was forced to deny removing Gmail after the hoax email caused panic among users.
A post on X, formerly known as Twitter, claimed that the service would be “decommissioned.” The initial post made it somewhat clear that it was a joke, claiming it happened by accident due to a mix-up with Google’s Gemini AI service, but it included a genuine-sounding message that the service was being shut down. I did.
However, that message was based on an actual email in which Google removed the basic HTML view. It was repurposed to suggest that Gmail would be permanently removed.
“We’re in touch to share important updates about Gmail,” the viral post reads.
“After years of connecting millions of people around the world, enabling seamless communication, and fostering countless connections, the Gmail journey is coming to an end.”
Google had a reputation for shutting down even popular services, so this announcement may have seemed real. So many Google products have been removed that they are now being tracked on a dedicated website known as “Killed by Google,” which lists a total of 293 apps, services, and hardware. .
But the message was fake. Google doesn’t appear to be discontinuing its email service.
Regarding X, the company wrote, “Gmail is here to stay.”
Gmail was launched on April 1, 2004, and many concluded that it was itself a hoax. But it has gained more features and users.
Google does not provide up-to-date information on the number of users of its service, but estimates put it at around 2 billion active users. That would make it arguably the largest email service in the world.
