Twitter is a social platform where anybody can read your short messages, known as “tweets.” By locking your account, you can make these tweets public or private. Private tweets are only viewable to the account’s followers, whereas public tweets are open to everyone on Twitter. So, you’re probably wondering why certain Twitter users have the lock icon on Twitter. A private account on Twitter is one that the user has decided not to make public.

Assume a lock icon appears next to a user’s username on their profile page or in their Tweets. That user’s Tweets protection is on; you cannot retweet a tweet from that account. If you enable tweet protection, only you will be able to retweet and quote your tweets. This article explains what the lock on Twitter means. You will also learn how to activate the lock function on your Twitter account.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Using Twitter’s Lock Feature

When you create a new Twitter account, the platform automatically makes your profile public. Your tweets can be seen by any of Twitter’s 288 million active users. If you want to use the account for personal reasons, this concept may be hard to apply. If you just want to talk with your friends, having so many eyes on what you tweet may not be for you. In such a case, turning on the lock option may be the best way to maintain your privacy.

Assume you want to use the Twitter account for business or it is a company account. Locking such an account is not recommended because you will no longer be visible to the public’s search algorithm. You can use the lock icon to lock a single tweet or the whole Twitter account. Regardless, every user who has the lock icon wants to limit what information is shared with the world. When you notice a locked account, it means the user has changed the Privacy settings on the account.

Pros and Cons of a private Twitter account

Having a private Twitter account is not for everyone. A private Twitter account, for example, will provide no benefit to a company wanting to expand its reach and market its services. No potential customer will be able to see their Twitter updates, and manually accepting followers is time-consuming. It is recommended for businesses, in particular, to make the account public. Individuals who are hesitant to have their tweets publicly displayed would benefit greatly from a private Twitter account. After you enable Tweet protection, no tweets you send will display in search results.

This allows users to easily send tweets containing critical information. Furthermore, you have total control over who sees your tweets since you may accept or reject someone’s follow request. The ability to keep your Twitter account private is handy for certain people, but it is not for everyone. Only those who desire total control over who sees and interacts with their tweets should enable this option. This feature is best left turned off for everyone else.

The section below covers how to lock your Twitter account on a PC and a mobile device.

Method #1: Locking Your Twitter Account on a PC

The first step in locking your public Twitter account is to get access to the account. This can be done on your computer or with the Twitter app on your mobile device. Assume you intend to do this using your PC. In such situation, use a browser to access Twitter. Here’s how to lock your Twitter account on your PC:

1. Open a web browser, navigate to Twitter, and log in if necessary.
2. Click the More button on the homepage (A circle embedded on three horizontal lines).
3. To access a drop-down list, select Settings and Support from the list of options.
4. Using the settings icon, select the Settings and privacy option from the drop-down list.
5. Click Account Information on your account menu page and wait for the data to populate.
6. Locate and click on Protected Tweets; lastly, check the protect your tweets box.

After you’ve completed all of these steps, your tweet will be locked, and you’ll need to decide who can engage with it. This approach is only suitable for the web page and locking your account on your computer.

Method #2: Disabling Twitter on Your Mobile Device

Accessing your account settings on a mobile device differs slightly from doing it on a PC. If you’re using a mobile device, find and open the Twitter app. The app’s background is blue, with a white bird logo. Here’s how to secure your Twitter account on your mobile device:

1. Open the Twitter app and, if necessary, log in.
2. Check the top left corner of the app’s homepage for your profile avatar and tap on it.
3. Locate and tap Settings and Support, followed by Settings and Privacy, from the list of sidebar options.
4. Click Privacy and Safety from the list of options that appears.
5. Then, at the top of the page, select the Audience and Tagging option.
6. Finally, turn on the Protect your Tweets feature.

With the following steps, you can simply lock your Twitter account using your mobile app. If you want to unlock it, repeat this process. You can also lock your account using these mobile app instructions on your PC.

Conclusion

The lock icon on Twitter means that the tweet or account is private. As indicated in the post, activating this feature is straightforward. After you’ve activated it, go to your profile page to confirm your tweets are secure. Your Twitter username should be accompanied by a little padlock.