Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, has announced significant changes to the social media platform that will affect those without a “blue check” verification on their accounts. Starting from April 15th, only verified accounts will be eligible to be in the “For You” recommendations column on the home page, which displays tweets and content from other accounts. This move is an attempt to address the issue of spam and fake accounts on the platform, which have been a problem for years, resulting in the spread of fake news and disinformation.
Musk has highlighted the importance of verification, stating that it is “the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over. It is otherwise a hopeless losing battle.” Additionally, he has stated that voting in Twitter polls will also require “blue check” verification, which comes at a cost of $7 per month if paid for upfront on an annual basis, or $8 per month if paid for monthly.
The “blue check” has helped verify the identity of high-profile users, including celebrities, politicians, journalists, and newsmakers. However, not everyone is convinced of the benefits of “blue check” status or paying for the feature. Actor William Shatner has complained about the change, stating that he has been on the platform for 15 years giving his thoughts for free, and now he has to pay for something that was once free.
Musk has responded to the criticism, stating that the verification process is about treating everyone equally, and that there should not be a different standard for celebrities. Monica Lewinsky has also voiced her concerns about the verification process, tweeting about the amount of accounts using her name, including a “blue check” account. She has questioned the fairness of the process, asking why those who can suffer consequences for being impersonated should have to pay for verification.
Musk completed his $44 billion takeover of Twitter in October. However, the launch of “Twitter Blue” backfired with an embarrassing spate of fake accounts that scared advertisers and cast doubt on the site’s future. Musk was forced to briefly suspend the effort before relaunching it in December, but it was met with a muted reception.
In conclusion, Twitter’s changes to benefit “blue check” accounts only have been met with mixed reactions. While verification may help to address issues of spam and fake accounts, it has also raised questions of fairness and equality on the platform. Only time will tell how these changes will ultimately affect the user experience on Twitter.
