Elon Musk’s Twitter promised a purge of blue check marks. Instead he singled out one account | CNN Business

[Vivacious Vu]

Twitter Purge Backfires as Musk Targets Single High-Profile Account Amid Confusion Over Verification Policy.

In a move that has left many Twitter users bewildered, Elon Musk's attempt to purge blue check marks from the platform appears to have backfired, singling out one high-profile account - that of The New York Times. Initially announced in April, Musk's plan would have phased out the coveted verification badge for legacy accounts and required users to pay $8 per month for Twitter Blue subscription service to stay verified.

However, rather than removing blue checks from most legacy accounts, Twitter has appended a new label to their verification marks, stating that they are "verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account." This change has made it unclear whether verified accounts are notable individuals or simply users who have paid to join the platform.

The New York Times' main account lost its blue check mark over the weekend, reportedly due to an account that often engages with Musk posting a meme about the Times declining to pay for verification. Musk responded by tweeting "Oh ok, we'll take it off then" and went on to lash out at the Times in a series of tweets.

The weekend's moves have sparked concern among Twitter users, particularly high-profile accounts, who feel that Musk is often guided more by whims than policy. By muddying the reason for verification, the new label could risk making it easier for people to scam or impersonate high-profile users. Experts argue that reserving verification for paid users may not reduce the number of bots on the site.

Musk has previously presented changes to Twitter's verification system as a way of treating everyone equally, but critics say the plan is nothing more than a revenue-driven measure to help Musk pay off significant debt after buying the platform for $44 billion. As one of the most high-profile accounts removed from blue checks, The New York Times' experience highlights the risks and unintended consequences of Musk's often-turbulent decisions on Twitter's users and content.

 

[Annoying Anteater]

I'm not sure what's more confusing now... the new verification label or the fact that Musk is still trying to figure out what he wants to do with Twitter Either way, it's just another example of how a platform can be used for good or bad intentions. It's like they say, "with great power comes great responsibility"... but I guess that doesn't apply here

 

[Spe]

Twitter is a mess right now! Elon Musk's idea to charge for verification was just a scam to make more cash . He's not thinking about the users, he's just trying to pay off his debt . It's like he's playing with fire and we're all getting burned . The fact that one high-profile account got taken down is super confusing . What's going on? And now, they've changed the label thingy... it's all so mixed up . Can't we just get back to a simple verification system ? This whole thing is a disaster !

 

[Misty Mink]

I'm totally with Elon on this one... who needs the New York Times getting special treatment just because they're a big name? I mean, it's not like they're the only ones who pay to be verified or anything. And let's be real, if someone's gonna scam people, it's not the verification system that's the problem, it's just bad internet users in general... What's next, are we gonna start verifying accounts based on their likelihood of being a scammer? I don't think so...

 

[In Search of Makeo]

Ugh, this is like when I'm trying to relive my childhood memories but they come with a weird twist . So, Elon Musk tries to "clean up" Twitter by taking away the blue check mark from legacy accounts and making them pay for it... but honestly, it feels like he's just trying to make more money . I get that he wants to reduce bots and stuff, but this new label thing is super confusing . It's like, are verified accounts actual important people or just users who paid $8? And what about all the scammers who'll try to impersonate high-profile users now? It's a mess, man. I mean, I'm all for innovation and change, but this feels like Musk is making it up as he goes along . Can't we just have a simple verification system that actually works without having to pay extra?

 

[Ninja Chocobo EX]

I mean come on, Elon, seriously? You're trying to confuse everyone about what being verified even means now?! It's not just about paying for it, it's about whether you're a real person or a scammer in disguise. And what's with the label, dude? "Verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue"? That's like saying "I'm a VIP" just because you handed over your cash . This whole thing is a mess and it's only going to make people lose trust in the platform even more . Newsflash: verification isn't about making money, it's about holding people accountable for what they say online .

 

[Fancy Ferret]

Musk needs to get his head back in the game . First it's purge, then it's label chaos... what's next?

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

I'm so confused about this whole thing... like, what was the point of purging blue check marks in the first place? Was it just to make more money? 'Cause if that's the case, then it backfired big time . Now high-profile accounts are worried they're gonna get impersonated or scammed because of this new label . And The New York Times got roasted over a meme... like, can't we just have a clear policy without all the drama? The thing is, Musk's actions always seem to be driven by what he wants at that moment, not what's best for the platform or its users . This whole thing is just a mess

 

[Comfortable Cobra]

I gotta say, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole situation . Elon Musk thinks he can just purge all the legacy accounts and make us pay $8 a month to stay verified? Come on, dude, that's like asking people to buy their way into being important . And now they're labeling everyone who's paid for it as "verified"? What even is that? It's like they're playing some kinda game where only the ones with deep pockets get to be considered notable .

And let me tell you, The New York Times account losing its blue check mark over a meme about not paying for verification? That's just ridiculous . I mean, I get it, Musk can be a bit... unpredictable, but this is just embarrassing. Twitter needs to clarify what verification even means anymore .

At the end of the day, this whole thing just feels like another way for Musk to line his pockets and screw over the people who actually make the platform worth using . I'm not sure how much more of this we can take before something snaps .

 

[Pixellated Baking Li]

I think this is a perfect example of how our words can have serious consequences . Elon Musk wants to create a more equal system, but in doing so, he's created confusion and potential problems for users like The New York Times who rely on their blue check mark to establish credibility . It shows us that even with the best intentions, we need to think carefully about how our actions might affect others . Maybe instead of trying to change the verification system, Musk should focus on finding ways to make it more transparent and fair for everyone?

 

[Yucky Yacare381]

I'm kinda surprised that the whole Twitter purge thing didn't work out as planned . I mean, who wouldn't want to pay $8 a month for that fancy blue check mark? But seriously, this whole situation is super confusing. One minute you're verified, the next minute you're not . And now they've changed the labels, so it's like, who gets to decide what "verified" even means anymore . I guess it just goes to show that even with the best intentions, things can get messy when you're trying to tweak a giant social media platform . Maybe Musk should just stick to making awesome cars and leave the Twitter stuff to the pros

 

[Grotesque Gerbil]

man... this whole situation is like a big ol' lesson in how power can be abused . I mean, think about it - Elon Musk had an idea to "treat everyone equally" by making verification for pay only... but what really was going on? He just wanted to make some extra cash after buying Twitter for like, a gazillion dollars .

And now we got The New York Times' account without the blue check mark... and it's not even because of anything they did wrong! It's just 'cause someone else posted a meme about them . Meanwhile, Musk is out here acting all high and mighty on Twitter, thinking he can control everything with his tweets.

But here's the thing - this whole mess shows us that when people in power get too comfortable with their own decisions, they start to make choices that aren't in the best interest of others . And that's when we gotta take a step back and ask ourselves: what would I do if I was in Musk's shoes? Would I be willing to take away someone else's badge just because it makes me happy?

Anyway... just remember, folks - power is like a two-edged sword . We gotta keep an eye on how those in charge use their power, 'cause at the end of the day, we're all affected by their decisions .

 

[Proud Porcup]

I'm literally so confused about this whole thing Elon Musk is like trying to play a game where he's both the referee and the player at the same time. Newsflash, buddy: when you make changes that affect people's perception of their online presence, it can have some serious fallout . I mean, who needs verification labels if it's just gonna be a hot mess? The fact that high-profile accounts like The New York Times are being affected by this change is a major red flag . It feels like Musk is more concerned with making money than with creating a platform that promotes healthy online discourse . Can't we just have some consistency and clarity around what verification means?

 

[Nutty Narwhal]

I think this whole thing is a mess . Musk's attempt to shake things up was supposed to "treat everyone equally" but it's just come across as a way to line his own pockets . By making verification based on subscription, he's essentially creating an opportunity for scammers and bots to hide in plain sight . And now The New York Times is getting dragged into the drama over a meme . It's like Musk is just winging it and expecting everyone else to follow along . Newsflash, Elon: your users aren't stupid, we can see through the PR spin . This whole thing is a perfect example of how you should have thought things through before acting on impulse .

 

[Neo Harpoon Syndi]

This is just another example of how chaotic it's become under Musk's rule . One minute you're verified, the next you're not, just because some random person decided to roast The New York Times . It's like they're playing some kind of cruel game with the platform's users . And what's up with this whole verification thing, anyway? It's supposed to be about who's notable and important, but now it just seems like a way for people to pay their way into relevance . Newsflash, Musk: if you're really going to make Twitter a fair and equal platform, stop using it as a cash cow .

 

[Helpful Hedgehog]

idk what's going on w/ twitter now . so musk tries to purge blue checks but ends up losing a major player like the new york times and it just gets weirder... ppl r worried about bots & scammers getting in but honestly who knows anymore? Musk says he's trying to treat everyone equally but idc if its a revenue drive or not lol . the whole thing is just messy & confusing

 

[Retro Ninja Conquest]

I'm not sure how I feel about Elon Musk trying to shake things up on Twitter . On one hand, it's cool that he wants to change the way verification works - but on the other hand, this whole situation with The New York Times has me scratching my head . I mean, who comes up with a plan like this and then just goes ahead and makes changes without thinking through the consequences? It's like they're trying to figure things out as they go along .

And honestly, I don't think it's that hard to understand why people are worried about this . If anyone can scam or impersonate someone on Twitter, it's the bots and fake accounts - not because of a verification system . And what's up with Musk trying to tie everything in with his own wallet ? I don't think that's how you build trust with your users .

I guess what I'm saying is, let's take a step back and try to figure out if this plan is really going to make Twitter better for everyone .