Twitter users were left in a state of despair when the social media giant announced that it would no longer use blue checkmarks starting on April 1. The verified badge was a symbol of legitimacy and importance for many users, and its removal has caused widespread upset. This follows Twitter founder Elon Musk’s controversial announcement that users can pay a monthly fee to receive the blue checkmark.
The move has been met with a great deal of criticism, with many people condemning the idea of having to pay for verification. Checkmarks were previously used to identify accounts of people and groups as active, genuine, and “notable” accounts of interest before Musk took over the company. Many Twitter users are lamenting the loss of their verified accounts.
However, Musk has defended his compensation model for Twitter, stating that any social media network that did not adopt it would collapse due to a bot invasion. In a Twitter Q&A, Musk explained that it is easy to create thousands of fake Twitter accounts using one computer and modern AI technology. The verified badge requires a phone number from a reliable provider and a credit card, making it harder for bots to create fake accounts.
Musk’s prediction has put pressure on companies, journalists, and famous people who relied on the blue tick for legitimacy and used Twitter as their primary communication route. The change in the system has also raised the possibility of pranksters and forgers paying for an officially approved but completely bogus account.
As the deadline for the change approached, many users were left with a difficult decision to make. Should they pay the fee to maintain their verified status, or should they let it go? While some have decided to pay the fee, others have opted to move away from Twitter altogether.
In conclusion, Twitter’s decision to remove blue checkmarks and charge for verification has caused widespread upset among its users. The move has put pressure on many users who relied on the blue tick for legitimacy and used Twitter as their primary communication route. While Musk has defended his compensation model for Twitter, it remains to be seen how users will react to the change.
