Elon Musk's Twitter Purge: A Single Account Lost Its Blue Check While Legacy Users Remain Verified
In a move that has left many high-profile users confused and concerned, Twitter's billionaire owner Elon Musk has gone back on his promise to purge the platform of "legacy" blue check marks. Instead, he has singled out one major publication - The New York Times - by removing its blue verification mark, while leaving other legacy verified accounts intact.
The announcement came as part of a previously announced plan to unwind Twitter's old verification system, which was meant to protect high-profile users from impersonation. However, under the new system, users would have had to pay $8 per month to join Twitter Blue and receive their blue check mark.
When most legacy blue check holders woke up on Saturday expecting to see their verification marks disappear, they were surprised to find that their checks had been replaced with a new label reading: "This account is verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account." This change makes it unclear whether verified accounts are actually notable individuals or simply users who have paid to join the platform.
But one high-profile account, The New York Times' main account, lost its blue check mark over the weekend. According to reports, Musk took aim at the outlet after an actor posted a meme about the Times declining to pay for verification on Twitter. Musk later lashed out at the outlet in a series of tweets, claiming that their coverage is boring and "propaganda."
The decision has raised questions about the effectiveness of Twitter's new verification system and whether it will indeed reduce impersonation on the platform. Experts have warned that reserving verification for paid users could make it easier for people to scam or impersonate high-profile users.
Musk has argued that his changes are meant to treat everyone equally, but critics say that the new system creates a two-tiered approach, with verified accounts having a higher status than non-paying users. The billionaire also stands to gain from the paid verification system, which could drive revenue and help him pay off debt.
The incident is just the latest example of Twitter's struggles with feature changes and user confusion under Musk's leadership. With its new verification system still in place, users are left wondering what other surprises lie ahead for the platform.
In a move that has left many high-profile users confused and concerned, Twitter's billionaire owner Elon Musk has gone back on his promise to purge the platform of "legacy" blue check marks. Instead, he has singled out one major publication - The New York Times - by removing its blue verification mark, while leaving other legacy verified accounts intact.
The announcement came as part of a previously announced plan to unwind Twitter's old verification system, which was meant to protect high-profile users from impersonation. However, under the new system, users would have had to pay $8 per month to join Twitter Blue and receive their blue check mark.
When most legacy blue check holders woke up on Saturday expecting to see their verification marks disappear, they were surprised to find that their checks had been replaced with a new label reading: "This account is verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account." This change makes it unclear whether verified accounts are actually notable individuals or simply users who have paid to join the platform.
But one high-profile account, The New York Times' main account, lost its blue check mark over the weekend. According to reports, Musk took aim at the outlet after an actor posted a meme about the Times declining to pay for verification on Twitter. Musk later lashed out at the outlet in a series of tweets, claiming that their coverage is boring and "propaganda."
The decision has raised questions about the effectiveness of Twitter's new verification system and whether it will indeed reduce impersonation on the platform. Experts have warned that reserving verification for paid users could make it easier for people to scam or impersonate high-profile users.
Musk has argued that his changes are meant to treat everyone equally, but critics say that the new system creates a two-tiered approach, with verified accounts having a higher status than non-paying users. The billionaire also stands to gain from the paid verification system, which could drive revenue and help him pay off debt.
The incident is just the latest example of Twitter's struggles with feature changes and user confusion under Musk's leadership. With its new verification system still in place, users are left wondering what other surprises lie ahead for the platform.
... like what's next? are we gonna start paying to see tweets from our faves or something? 
it doesn't sit right with me that The New York Times lost its blue check just 'cause some actor tweeted a meme 
and now experts are saying it's easier for scammers to impersonate people who pay for verification 
I think Elon should reconsider this whole thing, it's like he's creating a two-tiered system where those with more money get treated better 
. But at the same time, isn't that just creating a whole new problem where people who can't afford it are left in the dust? 
and now The New York Times lost its blue check mark over some meme? 
I mean I get it, he wants to reduce impersonation but this whole system feels like a total cash grab 
what's next, paying to have your tweets read out loud to everyone on the platform? 
but losing the blue check mark should feel like a loss of credibility or trust 
it's like he's playing with fire by removing it altogether, but on the other hand, it's also kinda refreshing to see him shake things up a bit 
anyway, i hope he rethinks this decision and makes it more fair for everyone 
, it's so confusing! I get that Musk wants to make money, but paying $8 a month to join Twitter Blue just seems like a way for him to squeeze more cash out of us 
. I hope Musk can figure out what he's doing with Twitter, 'cause right now it's just a mess 
but here's the thing, folks... if you wanna keep your blue check, you gotta shell out $8/month 
it's like musk is trying to create a whole new tier of "influencers" who pay to play 
anyway, what do u guys think? should we be paying for verification or does it dilute the whole "notable" thing 
... and what's up with The New York Times getting taken down in the first place? 
while everyone else is just, well, nobody 
The billionaire might say he wants equality, but it feels like he's creating a two-tier system where those who pay get special treatment 
. At this point, I'm just waiting for the next shoe to drop... 
but musk is all "hey im treating everyone equally" 
. I mean, can you imagine trying to verify someone's identity on Twitter without having a blue check mark? It's like they're saying that anyone who pays $8 is just as important as a well-established journalist or thought leader 
. I hope Twitter listens to user feedback and revises the system before it's too late 
.
. If you've paid $8 per month for Twitter Blue, you get a blue check - but if you're just a regular user like me, who cares about paying extra? It's just not right. And what about all the fake accounts that are gonna pop up now that verification is tied to payment?