Elon Musk's plan to scrap the coveted blue check marks, which were meant to identify high-profile users on Twitter, has taken an unexpected turn. Instead of implementing his initial promise to remove the checks from all verified accounts, Twitter appears to have targeted a single account - that of the New York Times, a major publication that Musk has publicly criticized.
The move comes as a surprise to many users, who were expecting their blue check marks to disappear on April 1. However, instead of losing their verification status, many legacy blue check holders found that their accounts had been appended with a new label reading: "This account is verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account."
The change in language makes it unclear whether verified accounts are notable individuals or simply users who have paid for the Twitter Blue subscription service. This has raised concerns among experts and users, who fear that the move could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users.
It's worth noting that the New York Times' main account had opted out of paying for verification, but its other accounts remain verified. The paper's spokesperson reiterated on Saturday that it does not plan to pay for verification.
The incident highlights how Musk often guides decisions about Twitter by whims rather than policy. While he initially presented changes to the verification system as a way of "treating everyone equally," his latest move has sparked confusion and raised questions about the motivations behind the change.
Twitter's decision to target the New York Times' account also comes as the platform continues to grapple with issues related to inauthentic behavior and impersonation. The move may be seen as an attempt by Musk to drive revenue through paid verification, which could help him pay off significant debt after acquiring Twitter for $44 billion.
The episode adds to a long-standing controversy surrounding the blue check marks, which have been at the center of debates about free speech, media credibility, and the role of verified accounts on social media.
The move comes as a surprise to many users, who were expecting their blue check marks to disappear on April 1. However, instead of losing their verification status, many legacy blue check holders found that their accounts had been appended with a new label reading: "This account is verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account."
The change in language makes it unclear whether verified accounts are notable individuals or simply users who have paid for the Twitter Blue subscription service. This has raised concerns among experts and users, who fear that the move could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users.
It's worth noting that the New York Times' main account had opted out of paying for verification, but its other accounts remain verified. The paper's spokesperson reiterated on Saturday that it does not plan to pay for verification.
The incident highlights how Musk often guides decisions about Twitter by whims rather than policy. While he initially presented changes to the verification system as a way of "treating everyone equally," his latest move has sparked confusion and raised questions about the motivations behind the change.
Twitter's decision to target the New York Times' account also comes as the platform continues to grapple with issues related to inauthentic behavior and impersonation. The move may be seen as an attempt by Musk to drive revenue through paid verification, which could help him pay off significant debt after acquiring Twitter for $44 billion.
The episode adds to a long-standing controversy surrounding the blue check marks, which have been at the center of debates about free speech, media credibility, and the role of verified accounts on social media.
I'm low-key kinda surprised by this move from Twitter! 
It's like they took a step back from their initial plan to remove blue check marks for all verified users 
. Instead, it seems they're targeting specific users who have been beefing with Musk 
.
. Are you being verified because you're a notable person or just 'cause you paid for Twitter Blue? 
It's like they're trying to create this new tier of "verified" that's kinda separate from the original blue check mark 
.
. If scammers can impersonate high-profile users, it could get pretty sketchy 
.
. It's like Twitter is trying to drive revenue through paid verification, which sounds like a pretty sneaky move 
.
. It's weird that their main account isn't getting the blue check anymore, but its other accounts still are 
. I mean, what does this even mean? Are they verified because you're a notable person or because you paid for Twitter Blue? 
Either way, it's causing a lot of confusion and worries that scammers might be able to impersonate high-profile users 
. Musk always seems to make these decisions on the fly, which is pretty unpredictable 
.
... I was expecting my blue check mark to disappear yesterday but now it's like they're just adding a label that says "this account is verified because I paid for it"... what's going on? 
.
did u see the stats on how many ppl still use twitter lol its only 40% of the population in the US 
. what if scammers start impersonating verified accounts with these new labels? that would be a nightmare 
. at the same time, i kinda get why he'd want to make some cash off of paid verification 
. This whole thing is just so extra and I'm here for it 
. But at the same time, I guess it's kinda genius marketing move? 
It's all very confusing. And honestly, I'm a bit worried about scammers taking advantage of this mess. 
Anyone else feeling like they're stuck in some kind of social media time loop? 
#BlueCheckBrouhaha #MuskMischief #TwitterTangles
i feel bad for people who paid for verification, they were expecting to lose it and now they got a label instead? 
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out 
. And can we talk about how this is basically a way for Musk to drive revenue through paid verification? Like, isn't that just another form of paying for influence? 
. What's going on with Twitter's priorities - is it about free speech or just making bank 
... how can we trust the system when there's no clear logic behind these changes? 
] Blue checks are now just a paid subscription? 