Elon Musk's Twitter Purge Takes a Confusing Turn as Legacy Checks Remain, but Not Without Raising Questions Over Verification System.
In a surprise move, the billionaire owner of Twitter has seemingly put on hold his plan to rid the platform of "legacy" blue checks, a feature long touted as essential for protecting high-profile users from impersonation. Initially, users who paid for Twitter's premium subscription service were promised an end to these coveted badges.
However, in a twist that has only added to the confusion, it appears that Musk has instead targeted just one account – the New York Times – removing its blue check mark and labeling its other accounts as verified under Twitter Blue or legacy accounts, despite not paying for the feature.
When users clicked on their check marks over the weekend, they found that "This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account" had been appended. While many legacy blue check holders remained unaffected, the new label has raised concerns about whether verified accounts are notable individuals or simply those who have paid for verification.
A spokesperson for the New York Times reiterated on Saturday that the paper does not plan to pay for the verification feature.
It's not clear why Twitter decided to single out the Times, but the move has been met with skepticism from many users and experts. Critics argue that it could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users.
This weekend's confusion over Twitter's verification system is just the latest example of how Musk often appears to guide decisions through whims rather than policy. The billionaire owner has previously stated that changes to the platform are intended to treat everyone equally, but critics say that this move seems to be an exception to that rule.
In a broader context, Twitter had announced plans to wind down blue checks on April 1 as part of its efforts to modernize the verification system and make it more accessible. However, in December, the company relaunched the program after facing issues with impersonation.
Some high-profile users have pushed back against Musk's plan, arguing that power users like themselves should not be required to pay for a feature designed to keep them safe. Others have questioned whether reserving verification for paid users will reduce the number of bots on the platform.
Musk has argued that the changes are intended to drive revenue and help cover his significant debt after buying Twitter for $44 billion. As part of this plan, verified accounts will only be recommended in users' "For You" feeds starting April 15.
The timing and rationale behind Musk's move remain unclear, but it highlights the challenges he faces in navigating Twitter's complex features and user base while also addressing his personal financial obligations.
In a surprise move, the billionaire owner of Twitter has seemingly put on hold his plan to rid the platform of "legacy" blue checks, a feature long touted as essential for protecting high-profile users from impersonation. Initially, users who paid for Twitter's premium subscription service were promised an end to these coveted badges.
However, in a twist that has only added to the confusion, it appears that Musk has instead targeted just one account – the New York Times – removing its blue check mark and labeling its other accounts as verified under Twitter Blue or legacy accounts, despite not paying for the feature.
When users clicked on their check marks over the weekend, they found that "This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account" had been appended. While many legacy blue check holders remained unaffected, the new label has raised concerns about whether verified accounts are notable individuals or simply those who have paid for verification.
A spokesperson for the New York Times reiterated on Saturday that the paper does not plan to pay for the verification feature.
It's not clear why Twitter decided to single out the Times, but the move has been met with skepticism from many users and experts. Critics argue that it could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users.
This weekend's confusion over Twitter's verification system is just the latest example of how Musk often appears to guide decisions through whims rather than policy. The billionaire owner has previously stated that changes to the platform are intended to treat everyone equally, but critics say that this move seems to be an exception to that rule.
In a broader context, Twitter had announced plans to wind down blue checks on April 1 as part of its efforts to modernize the verification system and make it more accessible. However, in December, the company relaunched the program after facing issues with impersonation.
Some high-profile users have pushed back against Musk's plan, arguing that power users like themselves should not be required to pay for a feature designed to keep them safe. Others have questioned whether reserving verification for paid users will reduce the number of bots on the platform.
Musk has argued that the changes are intended to drive revenue and help cover his significant debt after buying Twitter for $44 billion. As part of this plan, verified accounts will only be recommended in users' "For You" feeds starting April 15.
The timing and rationale behind Musk's move remain unclear, but it highlights the challenges he faces in navigating Twitter's complex features and user base while also addressing his personal financial obligations.
. Musk thinks he can just play puppet master with Twitter and everyone will follow along? Newsflash: this isn't a game, it's people's lives and livelihoods 
. By single-handedly targeting the NY Times, what does that say about his priorities? Is he trying to silence certain voices or is this just another example of his ego getting in the way 
.
. What about all the users who work tirelessly behind the scenes but don't have the means to splurge on Twitter Blue? Are they just supposed to fade into obscurity? 
.
. The dude needs to get his act together and start making decisions based on actual policy, not just what feels good in the moment 
. Until then, Twitter users are stuck playing catch-up 
and leaving them as legacy accounts with a weird new label on it. what's up with that? is this some kinda test run or are we just being played here? 
i mean, if musk wants to make money off verified users, shouldn't he at least be consistent about it? 
. It's so confusing! And, honestly, I don't get why he's picking on the NY Times specifically 
. Are they really that much of a target? I'm all for transparency, but this feels like just more drama to me 
. 
Come on, let's get real about what makes someone "verified" and not just some fancy label that can be bought 
. And what about all the bots on the platform? Are they just going to magically disappear or something? I'm not sure if this move is even making things better or worse 
like what's the point of verifying accounts if only paying users get a badge? 
.
. and honestly, i'm a bit worried about what this means for the platform in general... like, will we ever get a clear understanding of who's verified and who's not? 
It just seems like another one of his random decisions 
But what if that's just a bunch of noise? Is being verified solely about paying for it or does it have to be about something more substantial?