Twitter's Blue Check Mark Purge: A Tale of Inconsistency and Controversy
In a move that has left many users confused, Elon Musk, Twitter's new owner, announced a plan to phase out blue check marks for verified accounts on April 1. The new system would require users to pay $8 per month for the privilege of having their account verified through the platform's Twitter Blue subscription service.
However, when the deadline arrived, many legacy blue check holders found that their verification marks had not disappeared as expected. Instead, they were appended with a new label reading: "This account is verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account." This change has raised questions about whether verified accounts are notable individuals or simply users who have paid to join Twitter Blue.
But one high-profile account did lose its blue check over the weekend: the main account for the New York Times, which had previously told CNN that it would not pay for verification. The decision was likely a response to the Times' coverage of Musk, which the billionaire has repeatedly criticized as boring and "propaganda."
Musk's actions have sparked controversy among users, with many arguing that the new system is inconsistent and confusing. The billionaire's penchant for making decisions based on whims rather than policy has created uncertainty around Twitter's future.
In a surprise move, Twitter replaced its blue bird logo with the doge meme representing the cryptocurrency dogecoin, which Musk has promoted. The price of dogecoin shot up 20% on Monday, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Musk's actions.
Musk's long campaign against "legacy" blue checks began shortly after he bought Twitter last fall. He has presented changes to the verification system as a way of "treating everyone equally," but critics argue that the new system could drive revenue and create opportunities for scammers to impersonate high-profile users.
As experts warn that reserving verification for paid users may not reduce the number of bots on the site, Musk's decision has raised concerns about the future of Twitter's verification system. The New York Times' main account lost its blue check, but its other accounts remained verified, sparking questions about why the newspaper does not have a gold "organizations" check mark.
In the end, Musk's actions have highlighted the challenges of navigating the complexities of social media platforms and the importance of clear communication from those who govern them.
In a move that has left many users confused, Elon Musk, Twitter's new owner, announced a plan to phase out blue check marks for verified accounts on April 1. The new system would require users to pay $8 per month for the privilege of having their account verified through the platform's Twitter Blue subscription service.
However, when the deadline arrived, many legacy blue check holders found that their verification marks had not disappeared as expected. Instead, they were appended with a new label reading: "This account is verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account." This change has raised questions about whether verified accounts are notable individuals or simply users who have paid to join Twitter Blue.
But one high-profile account did lose its blue check over the weekend: the main account for the New York Times, which had previously told CNN that it would not pay for verification. The decision was likely a response to the Times' coverage of Musk, which the billionaire has repeatedly criticized as boring and "propaganda."
Musk's actions have sparked controversy among users, with many arguing that the new system is inconsistent and confusing. The billionaire's penchant for making decisions based on whims rather than policy has created uncertainty around Twitter's future.
In a surprise move, Twitter replaced its blue bird logo with the doge meme representing the cryptocurrency dogecoin, which Musk has promoted. The price of dogecoin shot up 20% on Monday, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Musk's actions.
Musk's long campaign against "legacy" blue checks began shortly after he bought Twitter last fall. He has presented changes to the verification system as a way of "treating everyone equally," but critics argue that the new system could drive revenue and create opportunities for scammers to impersonate high-profile users.
As experts warn that reserving verification for paid users may not reduce the number of bots on the site, Musk's decision has raised concerns about the future of Twitter's verification system. The New York Times' main account lost its blue check, but its other accounts remained verified, sparking questions about why the newspaper does not have a gold "organizations" check mark.
In the end, Musk's actions have highlighted the challenges of navigating the complexities of social media platforms and the importance of clear communication from those who govern them.
. I mean, come on Elon, consistency is key! This new system is like a hot mess express - some accounts get the treatment, while others are left in limbo 
. And what's with the arbitrary $8 price tag? It's just gonna encourage bots to create fake accounts and cash in on the system 
.
. He's trying to make Twitter Blue a money-making scheme, but is that really the best approach? I think it's time for some transparency and clear communication from Twitter HQ 
. Until then, I'll just be over here, shaking my head in confusion 
.
I'm so confused with Elon's new plan for Twitter blue checks 
. He says it's about treating everyone equally but honestly, it just feels like a cash grab 
. Those legacy blue check holders didn't pay to get their account verified in the first place, so why did they have to start paying now? It's not fair and it's gonna drive people away from the platform 
. I'm all for transparency but this new system is just a mess 
. It feels like he's more interested in making money than maintaining the integrity of the platform 
.
. Can't we just stick with the original blue check system and call it a day? 
. First, you've got people paying $8 a month for their blue check mark, and then suddenly they're still getting one with some fancy label attached 
. It's like, what even is the point of that? And why did the New York Times' main account lose its check in the first place? I feel like it was just a random move to get back at them for criticizing Musk 
. It's not fair that people have to pay extra to be verified, especially when it doesn't even guarantee that their account is secure 
. Twitter needs to figure out a better way to deal with these issues before they mess up the whole platform for us 
.
? I mean, I know he's all about promoting crypto and whatnot, but come on! It feels like a publicity stunt to me 
. Anyway, I hope Twitter figures out its act soon before things get too crazy 
.
And what about all the legit users who don't wanna pay? Are they just gonna get ignored or somethin'? 
It just seems like a money grab at this point. And can we talk about the NY Times losing its blue check? Like what's the deal with that?! Are they being punished for doin' their job? 
This whole thing is just a big mess and I'm low-key disappointed in Elon Musk right now 
meanwhile, i'm over here thinkin why not just have a simple system where ppl can prove who they are instead of makin it all about the benjamins 
. And what's up with the "legacy" label? It's like they're saying that these old accounts are somehow less notable because they didn't pay extra for verification 
. And can we talk about how this affects all the legit orgs and journalists who just want to communicate with people without being scams or bots? It's like they're trying to create a whole new world of confusion and chaos 
, but it's hard not to be curious about how this will all shake out 
... but also kinda ridiculous 
he's trying to shake things up but honestly it just looks like he's trying to make money off people's trust. i mean, who pays $8 a month just for a blue check? it's just too much. and now that the nytimes lost their blue check too, it's getting pretty out of hand 
I mean, can't we just keep it simple? Like, if you're verified, you're verified 
Maybe add a "verified by Elon" label for good measure 
