Say goodbye to free blue check marks on Twitter! The prestigious verification symbol on the popular social media platform is no longer free, and Elon Musk, the current owner of Twitter, has announced that only paying subscribers of Twitter Blue will be able to keep it. This decision marks the end of an era on the platform and changes the landscape of Twitter forever.
Once upon a time, the blue checkmark was a badge of distinction for professionals in various fields, including journalists, who used it as a tool to connect with other professionals and verified users in discussions and debates. However, many of them have expressed that they are not willing to pay for something that used to be free and provided them with a certain level of recognition and prestige.
Despite Musk’s criticism of the old verification system, his focus on monetizing Twitter has had a negative impact on the platform. Adoption of Twitter Blue has been low, with only 0.2% of users subscribing to the $8 per month service, which offers debatable benefits such as reduced ad presence, access to features in development, and support for longer messages and FullHD quality videos.
Musk’s crusade to make Twitter profitable has sparked controversy and led to changes that have alienated users, such as the introduction of an algorithmic timeline and the need to pay for the use of its API. These changes have transformed the blue checkmark into something less desirable, and even some users who still have it have started to hide it.
The verified community has shown widespread rejection of this new policy, labeling it as “foolish.” Musk, trying to defuse the situation, has started gifting subscriptions to famous personalities who have refused to pay, such as LeBron James, Stephen King, and William Shatner.