There is nothing more frustrating than a perfectly good username gone to waste.
There is a large amount of brands, celebrities and other potentially valuable accounts being taken advantage of on Twitter. Users squat a celebrity or brand name and then assume the account will garner followers on the name alone. Of course, other users are usually smart enough to realize Steve Buscemi is probably not really advertising a website for "Father's Day Gift Ideas." (If anything, the egg avatar will always give it away.)
Twitter as a company is familiar with this annoyance. Its founders originally planned for users to text status updates to Twittr (the former name) using the matching five-digit short code. It turns out the number was already taken by Teen People: "txttp," or "Text TP."
The company settled with the short code 40404, just like you probably opted the next best username.
Seven years later, Twitter has worked diligently to clean up spam, but many accounts are left unused, suspended or with remnants of spam and abandonment from years ago.
Spam can be hilarious, but only when its done in an entertaining and harmless way. The following is a list of 100 accounts that were misused, but could have had real potential.
What's a site to do about all of this? Leave your suggestions in the comments below.
Music
hello?— Journey (@journey) March 31, 2011
ill ask the questions around here— wangchung (@wangchung) July 29, 2008
wondering what's next? should I lsten to the company rumour mill? 2008 was the best in history but they're withholding bonuses?— jackie birrell (@ettajames) February 13, 2009
あ、そろそろ出なければ…。その会いたくない人と１６時に会います。成長しに行こう！— iwayan77 (@BillieHoliday) August 21, 2011
Foxes everywhere now. Sproinging in the yard, barfing in the fields.— johnnycash (@johnnycash) July 24, 2009
im at work— jon ochoa (@Ruffryders) February 28, 2009
typing my first message into twitter— monkees (@monkees) October 22, 2007
Follow for information about this account. x— spicegirls (@spicegirls) May 23, 2012
Actors and Actresses
Find Unique Gift Ideas For Fathers Dayhttp://fathersdaygiftideas.ning.com/— stevebuscemi (@stevebuscemi) June 11, 2008
Music— seanconnery (@seanconnery) February 15, 2008
damn weed is yummy— joaquinphoenix (@joaquinphoenix) May 14, 2009
Movies and Television
Hello— Jeff Waddell (@Jaws) December 22, 2012
I need a regeneration - this look is getting old.— The Doctor (@doctorwho) September 15, 2011
I'm new to this lol— kellie archer (@honeybooboo) January 31, 2009
Test— Boedy (@AirBud) March 12, 2011
test twitter— kingkong (@kingkong) November 3, 2006
U.S. and World
Salud #patron ....twitpic.com/7xigad— mexico (@mexico) December 24, 2011
England— kaj english (@england) January 25, 2011
V1V1D, CAN YOU ANSWER THE LONG UNANSWERED QUESTION, WHAT HAS OBAMA DONE TO QUALIFY HIM FOR PRESIDENT?— teddyroosevelt (@teddyroosevelt) September 26, 2008
getting ready for bed— danrather (@danrather) March 24, 2008
On 17 back in 50mins— Neilarmstrong (@Neilarmstrong) June 6, 2010
Art
:)— picasso (@picasso) August 11, 2007
Bingung .....— Qhieqy (@Gainsborough) March 4, 2011
Brands
xmas time— tootsie pop (@tootsieroll) December 24, 2010
sta cercando un mutuo on line.— daniele (@nesquik) February 8, 2007
Learning 2.0— bic (@bic) September 15, 2007
Nipples are so helpful and thoughtful with the whole 'tell everyone how cold I am' thing. bitly.xaijo.com/ricky— Edmund Bannerman (@jergens) November 23, 2012
I'm sooo not looking forward to getting up for work tomorrowwww - cant wait for this thing to work! http://l.pr/a4ze8v— hefty (@hefty) June 10, 2011
im just chilling drinking on some e&j you dig— koolaid (@koolaid) January 27, 2008
Technology and Social Media
A quick roundup on brands/timeline: readwriteweb.com/archives/compa…)— Social Media (@socialmedia) March 1, 2012
I have to have some shaving and hopefuel friends!!!ohhh Shit!!! What the hell amI talking about??!!— Google (@GoogleDoodle) May 6, 2009
pls..send me some link..i would like to watch the azkals game..=(— gpoy (@gpoy) October 4, 2011
"Mr Grimsdale"... RIP Norman Wisdom, loved your work... truly one of the greats of the screen...— Rofl (@rofl) October 5, 2010
Education
working again like always!!!— Roma Kahlon (@duke) October 10, 2010
haven't used this system much, 'scuze if I break any protocols...— Oxford (@Oxford) June 9, 2012
what shall I use this account for? shitttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt— Samuel Brown (@Brown) June 7, 2012
10 times a day, I ask myself "What would Dean do?"— UNC Tarheels Fan (@unc) April 2, 2009
Occupation
Posting to twitter— pediatrician (@pediatrician) July 29, 2008
hey pplz— commander (@commander) November 26, 2007
I am the Dentist— Steve the Dentist (@dentist) January 1, 2011
Reading some of the statementsposted on today's twitter, March 7, 2009.How was your breakfast ijustine??— GARY PAUL (@officer) March 7, 2009
I'm at home listening to Matisyahu.. talking to a handsome guy "Vradi". Who I spent 1 1/2 walking around Chicago with :)— Samantha (@Astronaut) March 26, 2007
Find your perfect partner today, adult dating, amateurs, swingers, adult sex and nude webcams! Join for free! http://bit.ly/aff24houroffer— physician (@physician) January 24, 2010
And All of the Weird Account Names You'd Love to Own
Dnt u hate when people wanna be in a relationship and wen they finally get one they dnt know how to act twitpic.com/ba2sb5— anne (@WorldsGreatest) November 3, 2012
@lilchuckee hey lil chuckee if someone on the internet were to ask u out like me wat would u say nd im 14— Jennifer Perales (@MrsBieber) December 24, 2009
twittering— mack daddy (@mackdaddy) March 19, 2007
i have no idea how this works— wendy coleman (@queenbee) March 31, 2009
I hate being sick Arrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh— Brandi (@BFF) May 19, 2010
I am working— classact (@classact) November 12, 2007
Hhhh— BIGPAPA (@BIGPAPA) November 9, 2010
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG NIKKI!!!!!!— Curtis Knight (@moneybags) July 6, 2007
nothing— crabcake (@crabcake) May 5, 2009
chillin like a villan— snackattack (@snackattack) October 14, 2008
comiendo cacahuetes— cacahuetes (@cacahuetes) October 10, 2007
Happy 2008 to everyone— pigpen (@pigpen) January 6, 2008
playing on the computer— doglover (@doglover) December 8, 2008
theres a girl i like but i dont know if she likes me to what should i do— darius crier (@crips) June 11, 2009