X’s handle marketplace is open and there are some… interesting names if you’re willing to pay

After previewing its plan to open up a marketplace to “redistribute” inactive handles last month, X has made the feature available to all Premium+ customers on the platform. This feature allows customers to request new handles that were unavailable until now because they belonged to accounts that have since become inactive.

The marketplace offers two types of handles: “Priority” and “Rare.” As for preferred handles, Ax suggested that the goal is to give people the chance to have a handle that more closely reflects their name. In practice, however, it is not at all clear how X is determining what are considered “priority” vs. “rare” handles. I signed up for a $40/month subscription and searched for both @kbell and @karissa, but was told both are considered “rare” and therefore not available to me. I was able to enter my “interest” in the names, and include a brief description of why I wanted these handles.

The company says that rare handles are the “most valuable” names and “often contain words, slang, or a few characters. Some options that may one day be available, according to my research, include @memelord, @phone, @gr0k, and @AIchat. However, the exact process for obtaining one of these is not exactly clear based on application systems.” The company also said it will make some particularly sought-after handles available for purchase on an invitation-only basis, with prices ranging “anywhere from $2,500 to seven figures.”

After digging around a bit, I discovered that there were some interesting options that are theoretically now available as “Priority” handles, including @six_seven, @elonfarts, @grokfacts, and @kbchat. Honestly, all of these were at least a little charming, although I’m not at all confident that X would approve of @elonfarts or @grokfacts. You also have to consider these requests at least as carefully as X is only giving users the ability to request a priority handle total lifetime Of their account.

There are some important strings attached to the whole process. In addition to the need to maintain a $40/month or $395/year Premium+ membership, X has a strict set of rules for “keeping your handle.” These include:

– Create content regularly. If an account is active but the associated handle remains largely inactive – for example, where little or no original or engaging content is published – X may reclaim the handle.

-Use the handle in a way that reflects a sense of participation and expression on the X. This means active participation in forum activities (replying, reposting, discussing topics) that helps create a vibrant community for sharing ideas and expressions. The intent of

-Ensure regular activity on the platform, with a minimum of 1 device login within a 30 day period. For details, see our Inactive Account Policy.

The terms also state that “X owns any handle and may reclaim it,” which is more than theoretical. The company has a long history of acquiring desirable handles from users who were actively using them, including the infamous @X.

Given all this, I have yet to request any of the “priority” handles available. I might stick with the same handle (@karissabe) that I’ve been using for the last 16 years. It’s only two letters away from the supposed “rare” version of my first name, and it won’t cost anything extra to keep it.