Tokyo International News Agency

On January 22, 2026, the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) saw a large number of users experience "account locks," leading to widespread confusion and distress. The significant impact was evident as "account lock" rapidly trended on Yahoo! Real-time Search. Many users suddenly found their accounts locked, with numerous comments like "I panicked," "I was scared to death," and "It was my first time." While some users panicked due to their initial experience, others were observed to have encountered account locks multiple times, stating, "My account got locked again" or "It happens to me periodically." After unlocking, relief was expressed with comments like "Glad to be back" and "Successfully revived," though glitches such as followers temporarily displaying "0" were also reported. Various speculations are circulating among users regarding the specific cause of the account locks. ...

The image generation and editing features offered by the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot 'Grok' have recently transitioned to a subscription-only service. This sudden paywalling of features previously available for free has sparked significant controversy among users on the social media platform 'X'. Grok's official account repeatedly announced, 'Image generation and editing are now exclusive to paid subscribers. Subscribe to unlock these features.' This change elicited numerous expressions of surprise and confusion from users. Reactions included comments like 'Surprised it's not free anymore' and sarcastic posts requesting illustrations depicting the 'hellish current state' following the abrupt announcement. Regarding the rationale behind this paywall, Grok explained it is 'to prevent misuse (e.g., modifying photos of real people into sexual images),' emphasizing that it is 'not for profit, but a safety-first measure....

A newly introduced "Edit Image" feature on the social media platform "X" (formerly Twitter) is causing significant controversy among users. Creators, in particular, are expressing strong concerns about copyright infringement and unauthorized alteration, with harsh criticisms such as "too terrifying" and "crushing artists" surfacing one after another. This new feature allows users to edit posted images using AI. According to some user reports, it's easy to alter images posted by others, leading game streamer Tokiwa Matsukaze (@matukazetokiwa) to remark, "Just because the original source is displayed doesn't mean it's okay to casually tamper with someone else's image." Wayupata (@wayupata) also expressed surprise, stating, "It was added without me realizing it, and I'm speechless... Just pressing this button allows anyone to freely edit images with AI." Illustrators and VTuber fans are voicing intense anxiety...

A newly introduced "Account Location" display feature on the SNS platform X (formerly Twitter) has become a major topic of discussion among users. This feature allows users to view an account's location (country or region) and connection source (device or app used) directly from its profile. While this has raised expectations for increased transparency in information dissemination, it has also led to questions and confusion regarding the displayed information. The new feature works by allowing users to access another account's profile page and click on an item such as "About this account." This will display the country or region where the account was registered or from which it is primarily connected. Users are reportedly able to choose to display the location by region/continent or by country. Information has also been shared indicating that a "!" mark will appear if a VPN connection is being used. Many users have welcomed this new feature, stat...

On December 6th, numerous accounts on the SNS platform 'X' (formerly Twitter) were suddenly suspended, an event that caused a significant stir among users and led to 'Suspension Festival' (Tōketsu Matsuri) becoming a trending topic. Many users reported 'a sudden drop in followers' and 'being suspended without any clear reason,' leading to widespread confusion and anxiety. Some even reported losing tens to over a hundred followers within a few days. One user posted, 'A Suspension Festival right before Comiket results are announced... this isn't good,' raising concerns about the potential impact on upcoming events. According to a report by Denfaminicogamer, emails from official X channels cited 'violations of rules prohibiting manipulation' as the reason for the suspensions. However, many users claim they 'have no idea why they were suspended,' leading to questions about the unclear criteria. Furthermore, these suspensions appea...

On the social media platform "X," a wave of reports regarding account "suspensions" has emerged from numerous users. In particular, claims that a large number of users who were utilizing the old version of "TweetDeck" have been suspended are circulating, amplified by the trending keyword "凍結してる" (meaning "being suspended"). This has led to widespread confusion and unrest among X users. According to user posts, multiple voices suggest, "Probably all users who were using OldTweetDeck have been suspended," strongly indicating that the use of the old TweetDeck might be the cause of the suspensions. There are also mentions like, "Everyone knowledgeable about the internet is being suspended," suggesting that the impact is concentrated among users proficient with specific tools. The scope of the suspensions is extensive, with reports such as, "Around 20 artists I follow have been suspended," and "If your foll...

On the SNS platform X (formerly Twitter), the keyword "湿度高め" (humid, high humidity) is being posted daily, drawing considerable attention. This phrase is not merely a weather update; it's increasingly seen as a lifestyle insight, deeply connected to users' moods and their activity choices for the day. Many posts share various ways people spend their time under high humidity. These range from household chores and light activities like "going for a walk," "cleaning," and "cooking," to indoor tasks requiring concentration such as "organizing notes," "reading," and "listening to music." Furthermore, many users prioritize self-care, opting to "take a break," "nap," or "stretch," considering their physical condition. "Going to a cafe" also appears to be a popular choice for a change of scenery or to aid concentration. The moods on "high humidity" days are diverse. W...

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is strongly urging users who utilize security keys for two-factor authentication (2FA) to re-register them by November 10. This measure is a consequence of the deprecation of the old Twitter domain (twitter.com) and the complete transition to the current X domain (x.com). Failure to comply may result in account lockout. According to an announcement from X, affected accounts are those that use physical security keys (such as USB devices) or passkeys as 2FA during login. These users must re-register their security keys to be compatible with the new domain (x.com) by November 10. Conversely, users who do not use two-factor authentication at all, or who have set up 2FA using other methods such as authenticator apps or SMS authentication, are not subject to this re-registration requirement. As many users rely on these other authentication methods, numerous voices expressed relief, saying, "This doesn't concern me." However, some users...