Millions of Gmail users were left panicked on Thursday after a fake message claiming the popular email service was shutting down went viral. The manipulated screenshot an X user shared gained online traction, with loads of views and shares.
The message reads “Google is sunsetting Gmail” with a quick note to dedicated users that states that Gmail will be retired on August 1, 2024, and after this date, it will no longer support sending, receiving, or supporting emails.
Apart from this, it also covered information like Why Gmail is sunsetting and What this means for you.
While a statement claiming the demise of Gmail and featuring Google’s logo might seem convincing, rest assured, it’s a hoax. This false claim arose just hours after Google faced criticism for their text-to-image AI tool, Gemini
However, Gmail users were smart enough to mark this post as fake quickly after it went viral. Google didn’t take much to debunk the rumor with a post through Gmail X Handle, confirming that Gmail is here to stay and there are no plans to shut it.
The Rumor originates in the fact, “Google Sunset the Gmail’s Basic HTML View in January 2024”. And after February 2024 the basic HTML version will be automatically switched to the standard interface, enjoying its enhanced features and functionality of the latest Gmail.
The basic HTML version of Gmail, known for its lightweight and faster loading times, is no longer available. This change aligns with the retirement of 3G networks and reflects the evolution of technology towards smoother, richer online experiences.
This change doesn’t affect the core Gmail service itself, which remains alive and well.
