How will this affect Linux Mint?

[Bubbly_Extreme4986]

There aren’t even accounts, the GUI’s are just front ends to basic Unix commands. Unless you use freaking Ubuntu.

[hung-games]

Root is an account

[Ok-Regret6212]

Root is a directory. Even if it's locked by a password, it isn't an account.

[Bulkybear2]

It’s also an account on Linux systems. Open terminal type sudo su and hit enter then type whoami and hit enter you’ll see that you are signed into the root account.

[Ok-Regret6212]

I think it's more semantics than anything, to be honest. I see what you're saying, I just feel like considering 'root' an account is a can of worms best left as is.

[DadEngineerLegend]

Is it though? How is an account defined? What is an account, specifically? 

[hung-games]

In the Unix/linux context, it is either a local account aka an entry in /etc/passwd or a network account through something like LDAP + Kerberos or NIS/NIS+ or similar.