Elon Musk's plans to weed out "legacy blue checks" from Twitter's verification system have backfired, leaving users confused and wondering why some accounts remain verified. Instead of removing the coveted check marks from most legacy users, Twitter has decided to label them as having paid for a premium service.
The move comes after Musk announced that he would be revoking blue checks for users who didn't pay $8 per month for Twitter Blue, a subscription service that allows users to verify their accounts. However, the platform's new verification system seems to have been misinterpreted by its own administrators.
One notable exception is The New York Times' main account, which had refused to pay for verification and lost its blue check mark over the weekend. Musk took to Twitter to mock the outlet, labeling it "boring" and "propaganda." This move has sparked outrage among journalists and media outlets, who argue that Musk's actions are undermining the integrity of the platform.
The confusion surrounding Twitter's verification system is not new, however. Musk had been threatening to remove legacy blue checks since acquiring the platform last fall. In an effort to curb impersonation, Twitter introduced a color-coded verification system with differently colored marks for companies and government entities. However, Musk continued to insist that individual users would eventually have to pay for the feature.
Experts warn that labeling verified accounts as "paid users" could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users. The new system also raises questions about whether reserving verification for paid users will reduce the number of bots on the site, an issue Musk has raised repeatedly.
As Twitter's verification system continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Elon Musk's leadership style is marked by whims rather than policy. With the platform's high-profile accounts now in disarray, it remains to be seen how Twitter will navigate this new landscape and what implications it will have for users and advertisers alike.
The move comes after Musk announced that he would be revoking blue checks for users who didn't pay $8 per month for Twitter Blue, a subscription service that allows users to verify their accounts. However, the platform's new verification system seems to have been misinterpreted by its own administrators.
One notable exception is The New York Times' main account, which had refused to pay for verification and lost its blue check mark over the weekend. Musk took to Twitter to mock the outlet, labeling it "boring" and "propaganda." This move has sparked outrage among journalists and media outlets, who argue that Musk's actions are undermining the integrity of the platform.
The confusion surrounding Twitter's verification system is not new, however. Musk had been threatening to remove legacy blue checks since acquiring the platform last fall. In an effort to curb impersonation, Twitter introduced a color-coded verification system with differently colored marks for companies and government entities. However, Musk continued to insist that individual users would eventually have to pay for the feature.
Experts warn that labeling verified accounts as "paid users" could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users. The new system also raises questions about whether reserving verification for paid users will reduce the number of bots on the site, an issue Musk has raised repeatedly.
As Twitter's verification system continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Elon Musk's leadership style is marked by whims rather than policy. With the platform's high-profile accounts now in disarray, it remains to be seen how Twitter will navigate this new landscape and what implications it will have for users and advertisers alike.
anyway, idk why they didnt just make the paid option optional instead of labeling all verified accounts as "paid users"... that wouldve been way more chill 
and now we got scammers trying to impersonate legit users... thats just bad for everyone 
? I think what Musk needs to do is sit down with the Twitter team and have a calm chat about what verification means and why it matters. This whole thing feels like a mess 
I'm loving how Elon Musk is shaking things up on Twitter 
but come on 
the way he's handling verification system is straight up confusing 
and what's with the labeling thing 
it's like, we know who the legit users are 
they're paying for that premium service 
now I'm all for innovation 
but this whole thing feels like a hot mess 
It sounds like Musk is just winging it here and causing more chaos than clarity... I mean, who does he think this is going to help, right? 
! And poor @nytimes, getting roasted by Elon for not paying up 
. But honestly, why didn't they just leave the blue check mark on?! 
Anyway, fingers crossed Twitter gets its act together soon and figure this whole verification thing out 
. At least the NYT account is getting some karma for refusing to pay up... maybe this will make them more willing to fact-check in the future? 