Last updated: April 21, 2023, 4:02 AM IST
The new seals are only available to paid users, businesses, government agencies and civil servants. (Image: Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
Owner Elon Musk, who has seen his $44 billion investment in the site dwindle, previously vowed to get rid of what he described as a “lords & peasants system”.
On April 20, Twitter began removing the blue verification checkmarks from user accounts, including those of high-profile figures such as Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, and the Pope.
Under the original blue-check system, Twitter had about 300,000 verified users, including journalists, athletes and public figures.
The checks, which previously indicated that the account had been verified as legitimate by Twitter, began disappearing from these users’ profiles in late morning Pacific Time.
History of verification
About 14 years ago, Twitter started labeling profiles with a blue check mark.
Its primary purpose was to protect public figures from impersonation and to provide a mechanism to limit the spread of misinformation originating from fake accounts.
Why did this happen
Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who bought the platform for $44 billion, had promised to do away with the system of “lords and peasants” and sell the blue badge for $8 a month.
Musk had described the move as a means to “democratize journalism and amplify the voice of the people”. Previous attempts to reverse the blue ticks had failed.
What now
To maintain the points, fees range from $8 per month for individual internet users to a minimum of $1,000 per month to authenticate an organization, in addition to a $50 monthly fee for each affiliate or employee account.
Unlike the earlier blue check, which was issued during Twitter’s pre-Musk administration, individual accounts are not verified by Twitter.
Aftereffect of paid blue
Twitter has recently received criticism from several news organizations objecting to labels on their accounts indicating they were “state-affiliated” or “government-funded.” Public broadcaster Sveriges Radio said it would stop tweeting in the footsteps of NPR and CBC.
Musk’s ownership of Twitter has spared widespread debate, with some advertisers leaving the platform and users complaining about misinformation.
(With input from the agency)
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