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The great digital purge is upon us
When was the last time you logged into that old Gmail account or your photo storage app? If it’s been a while, don’t be shocked if all your stuff is gone for good.
Most tech companies have policies that let them totally wipe out your account and everything in it if you haven’t signed in for a while. This could mean losing years of family photos, important emails and priceless memories. Yeah, that’s bad.
It happened to Andrew, my podcast cohost. He stored thousands and thousands of family photos on Shutterfly. One day, he went to log in and all those photos were nowhere to be found. No warning, no “are you sure?” Just deleted.
⏳ How long before your stuff disappears?
For starters, these deadly time-outs mostly apply to free accounts. Paid plans usually buy you more time, but not always. Sometimes you’ll get an email telling you to log in or else, but don’t count on it.
I put together this list for you so you know the dates your account could go into the intergalactic bit bucket.
- Google (Gmail, Drive, Photos): Two years of no activity = delete. Poof!
- Google Voice: Three months of silence and your number could be reassigned.
- Shutterfly: If you don’t make a purchase in 18 months, they can delete your photos.
- Dropbox (free accounts): Around 12 months of no activity and your files could disappear.
- Yahoo Mail: Account may be deleted after 12 months of no login.
- Outlook / Hotmail (Microsoft): You’ve got 24 months before your account is shut down.
- AOL Mail: Log in at least once every six months to keep your account alive.
- iCloud / Apple ID: Apple’s vague about it, but if your account is inactive for a “prolonged period” (think: years), they can disable or delete it.
- LinkedIn: No set timeline, but if you vanish for two or more years, your profile might disappear.
- X: Says it releases usernames after 30 days but is sketchy on full deletions.
- Snapchat: If you deactivate and don’t come back in 30 days, your account is gone for good.
- Instagram: They may delete accounts that go 90+ days without login or engagement, but timelines are vague (think months to years).
- Facebook and TikTok: Good news, if you ghost your account, they don’t delete it automatically. Your profile stays alive unless you remove it or break the rules, and then you won’t see the likes of anyone again.
Take one minute, log into that dusty old account and hit send on an email to yourself. Yes, even that backup inbox from 2009 where your only messages are spam and a Chili’s coupon.
👋 Know someone who hasn’t logged into that old Yahoo or Gmail account in a while? Forward this to them. It might save years of photos, emails and digital memories from disappearing into the void. Because if you don’t, poof, your digital memories could vanish faster than a Zoom invite on a Friday afternoon.
Host smarter for under $50
🫙 My pick: Electric mason jar vacuum sealer (10% off)
Forget pricey food-savers. Press one button, and boom, it seals tighter than your grandma’s Tupperware lid.
🧊 Collapsible cooler bag (23% off): Holds up to 60 cans. Perfect for tailgating or when you’re “just grabbing a few things” from the store.
🍳 Square grill pan (8% off): No griddle? No prob. This pan has high ridges to give you those steakhouse-quality grill marks.
🍗 Chicken shredder tool (6% off): Saves you 10 minutes of wrestling with forks. Just twist, shred and you’re all done.
🎉 Elastic tablecloth (43% off, two-pack): Turns your folding table from “garage sale” to “fancy party.” Toss it in the wash, reuse, repeat.
😋 These are just the starters: Head to my Amazon shop for 35 more gadgets I handpicked to make cooking and hosting way easier.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
9 AI terms you should know (so you don’t sound like a clanker)
I love tech, but I’m not afraid to call it out when it gets weird.
If you’ve scrolled through X or Reddit lately, you’ve probably seen words that made you go, “Wait, what?” Here’s your cheat sheet to the wild world of AI slang. No decoder ring required.
Passwords everywhere can be a nightmare: That’s why I trust NordPass. It securely stores all my logins and fills them in instantly, so I never get locked out. Get NordPass today for $1.34 a month and experience a smarter way to manage passwords!
🚌 Scams on wheels: Maybe you’ve seen those Facebook posts like “Win this luxury motor home!” Yeah, they’re scams. You comment, click a sketchy link, give up your info. And that RV? Stolen photo. No prize. Just scams, inconvenience and crushed dreams. There’s taking a camper to go fishing, and then there’s getting phished by a camper.
Selling online? Bring a bodyguard
A Florida man selling an iPhone met a “buyer” in person who pulled a gun, fired a shot into the ground, and stole the phone. Here’s how to stay safe, protect your money, and avoid dangerous situations when meeting buyers or sellers.
1,289 Mbps
That’s the download speed Amazon’s satellite internet just flexed. Basically, it downloaded an entire HD movie in the time it takes you to tie your shoes. But don’t get too excited, that speed came from a fancy business-grade dish, not the one you’d actually get. Still, it’s a flashy preview of what might be coming (eventually).
🔋 iPhone Clean Energy Charging: By default, your iPhone checks the grid and schedules charging when power is cleaner. That means it may charge slower or delay topping up. Need full power right away? Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, and toggle off Clean Energy Charging. Bet Apple didn’t tell you that.
Log in or lose everything
Old accounts can vanish faster than you think. Gmail, Shutterfly, Dropbox, Yahoo, and more may delete your photos, emails, and memories if you haven’t signed in. Here’s how long you really have to log in before it’s all gone.
🤝 Free Perplexity, kinda: If you use PayPal or Venmo, they’re handing you a free year of Perplexity Pro (normally $200) and early access to its AI browser. Just tap a button in the app. Only catch? You’re paying with your data, obviously. And yes, it auto-renews at the $200 price, because of course it does.
Let’s get physical
🏃♀️ My pick: Foldable desk treadmill (10% off)
Walk now, stash under your desk later. Turns “too busy to exercise” into “wow, I hit 10K steps before lunch.”
💪 Resistance bands (40% off, five-pack): Perfect if you like working out at home. They’re stretchy, soft and latex-free.
👟 Gel shoe insoles (9% off): Whether you run or are on your feet all day, these give your arches the support they need.
💦 Collapsible water bottle (38% off): Stays tall when you need it, squishes down when you don’t. No more hogging bag space.
🌀 Foam roller (6% off): Roll out those tight muscles. Cheaper than a massage therapist and always available.
😅 Don’t sweat it: Shop my Amazon store for more health gear and gadgets on sale. I’ve got your back (and legs and arms).
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Your digital life could vanish overnight
Your forgotten accounts may not be as safe as you think. George, your AI host, reveals how long Gmail, iCloud, Dropbox, and more keep your data before hitting delete. Plus, the latest on Amazon Prime’s crackdown, Walmart’s Peacock deal, YouTube’s family plan changes, AI in healthcare, and device tricks you can use today.
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
🏡 Don’t buy any Google Home products now: On Oct. 1, looks like at least one new Nest Cam and doorbell with Gemini built in will drop. That means natural language commands, like asking for recipes, getting info on everyday topics and troubleshooting home appliances. And yes, there’ll be both free and paid versions. I’ll keep you posted.
🔥 Free up space on Fire Stick: You don’t need to delete apps to boost performance. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications. Open each app on the list, select Clear Cache and hit Confirm. This removes junk files while keeping the app and your login details saved.
Scammers threatened to murder my dad
Lauren from San Francisco got a call that would terrify anyone: her dad crying as a man saying he’d be killed. Only… it wasn’t her dad on the line. Plus: Google dodges a breakup, Amazon cuts perks, and an AirTag leads to a thief caught in stolen clothes.
Cleaning hacks you’ll actually use
⚡ My pick: Electric spin scrubber (33% off)
Hate scrubbing? Same. With eight brush heads, a digital display and a long handle, this makes tackling grime feel less like CrossFit.
📱 Phone screen cleaner (40% off): It’s like a lint roller for your tech. No sprays or wipes, just roll away the smudges.
🧼 Washing machine descaler (15% off): Because a clean washer = clean clothes. 4.6 stars and 137K+ reviews.
🚗 Car cleaning gel (11% off): Yes, it’s slime, but it’s also a dust magnet. More satisfying than popping bubble wrap.
💚 Refrigerator deodorizer (11% off): Way better than baking soda. Drop it in, and get a decade of freshness. So smart.
✨ The sparkle doesn’t stop here: I’ve got 25 more little game changers waiting for you on my Amazon storefront.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Use Guest mode in Chrome: Handing your computer to someone else? Ditch Incognito and go with Guest mode. Unlike Incognito, it’s a totally blank profile, so users won’t see your bookmarks, saved passwords or browsing history suggestions. To access it, click your profile icon in the top right and select Open Guest profile.
Makin’ a comeback: AirPods are out, tangled cords are in. Celebs like Emma Watson and Harry Styles are bringing back wired headphones, and Gen Z is riding the nostalgia wave straight to 2007. No charging. No losing one earbud at brunch. If your headphones aren’t in an impossible knot, are you even cool?