What's In a Twitter Name? Apparently Everything

[image error]If you are a Netflix subscriber or have been following the company's news in recent months, you know that it stated it would begin charging separate costs for its DVDs-by-mail and streaming video options.

As a result, Netflix customers who desired both services saw their bills go from $10 a month to $16 a month, something that did not go over too well with many subscribers.

In just the last week, Netflix made news again when it announced it was splitting up its DVD-by-mail and video streaming services, once again leaving subscribers left with questions and concerns. The ensuing split would lead to the company calling its newly formed service Qwikster.

While price increases and changes to service offerings have led the company to do some explaining – they may have some explaining to do on what other small item – not doing their homework.

Social Media Challenges When Your Desired Name is Already in Use

According to an MSNBC report, Netflix officials failed to check Twitter to see if their newly created service's name, Qwikster, was available as an account name on the social networking site. Oops. As it turns out, an individual actually holds the registration keys on Twitter to the name @Qwikster.

The story goes on to note that the @Qwikster username on Twitter belongs to a student who has among his interests' women and recreational drug usage. Again, the term oops comes to mind.

Making matters even more interesting is that the individual's Twitter icon is a picture of Sesame street character Elmo in possession of a marijuana joint. You probably know where this story is going at this point.

While Netflix may not want to admit it, Twitter is a heavily used social networking site, and I'm guessing that Netflix aren't too thrilled with the idea of countless subscribers and others confusing the current @Qwikster account on Twitter with one that would be tied to the company.

So, will Netflix approach the individual holder of the @Qwikster name on Twitter in an effort to gain control of it? If so, will they offer money or a year's free subscription to Netflix, I mean Qwikster?

Two factors come into play here according to the MSNBC story. First, it appears Netflix does not hold a trademark filing for Qwikster, secondly, Twitter does not allow users to purchase handles from others.

It appears short of the individual user freeing up the handle that Netflix will have to wait and see if the tweeter goes on the inactive list for a while.

According to Twitter rules, users must log in and Tweet (i.e., provide an update) within 6 months of their last update. Accounts can be permanently removed as a result of prolonged inactivity.

So, will Netflix wait it out and hope this Twitter user gets bored with his account and they're able to eventually overtake it, or will Netflix have a "qwik" solution to the problem?

In the land of social media, even your user name has implications.

Photo credit: deadline.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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