Elon Musk's plan for a Twitter purge of blue check marks has taken an unexpected turn, with the billionaire CEO singling out one high-profile account instead of embarking on the widespread removal of these coveted symbols.
The New York Times main account was stripped of its blue verification mark over the weekend, sparking confusion among users who had grown accustomed to seeing their names in this distinctive color. Instead of removing blue checks from accounts verified under Twitter's old system, Musk appears to have decided to label them with a new marker that reads: "This account is verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account." This change has raised concerns about the clarity and consistency of verification on the platform.
The New York Times' decision not to pay for its verification mark was seen as a symbolic gesture against Musk's efforts to monetize the feature. The move came after a Twitter user posted a meme poking fun at the idea that prominent accounts should have to shell out cash for safety features.
Musk has been pushing for years to overhaul Twitter's verification system, touting it as a means of treating everyone equally. However, his approach has been criticized by experts and users alike, who argue that reserving blue checks for paid users could make the platform more vulnerable to scams and impersonation.
The recent changes have also sparked debate about Musk's motivations, with some accusing him of trying to drive revenue through the verification feature. The billionaire CEO has acknowledged that this is a possibility, but insists that his goal is to create a more equitable system.
One notable casualty of the Twitter purge was dogecoin, which saw its price surge 20% on Monday after Musk promoted it on the platform. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Elon Musk's Twitter has become a wild card, where even the most seemingly straightforward moves can have unpredictable consequences.
The New York Times main account was stripped of its blue verification mark over the weekend, sparking confusion among users who had grown accustomed to seeing their names in this distinctive color. Instead of removing blue checks from accounts verified under Twitter's old system, Musk appears to have decided to label them with a new marker that reads: "This account is verified because it's subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account." This change has raised concerns about the clarity and consistency of verification on the platform.
The New York Times' decision not to pay for its verification mark was seen as a symbolic gesture against Musk's efforts to monetize the feature. The move came after a Twitter user posted a meme poking fun at the idea that prominent accounts should have to shell out cash for safety features.
Musk has been pushing for years to overhaul Twitter's verification system, touting it as a means of treating everyone equally. However, his approach has been criticized by experts and users alike, who argue that reserving blue checks for paid users could make the platform more vulnerable to scams and impersonation.
The recent changes have also sparked debate about Musk's motivations, with some accusing him of trying to drive revenue through the verification feature. The billionaire CEO has acknowledged that this is a possibility, but insists that his goal is to create a more equitable system.
One notable casualty of the Twitter purge was dogecoin, which saw its price surge 20% on Monday after Musk promoted it on the platform. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Elon Musk's Twitter has become a wild card, where even the most seemingly straightforward moves can have unpredictable consequences.
i was like shocked when i saw nytimes' blue check gone 
so confusing rn 
musk is trying to make twittre more "equitable" but idk how that's gonna work out 
paying for verification just feels like another way to monetize the platform 
and what's up with the new label 
? not sure if it's better or worse 
the memes are tho 
gotta keep an eye on this one, it's getting wild 
. those legacy verified accounts are still legit, btw! and i love how The New York Times stood up for what they believe in 
. as for Musk's motivations, idk man... maybe he just wants to make the platform more exciting 
!
. I'm also super curious about Musk's motives here - is he really just trying to create a more equal system or is there something more to it? 
Either way, I hope this doesn't lead to more scams and impersonation on the platform 
.
. So like, I think Musk is trying to be all about equality and stuff, which sounds cool on paper, but honestly who knows what he's even doing anymore? 
It's just one big mess at this point, you know? Like, The New York Times not paying for their verification mark was a pretty bold move, I guess? 
... wait, no, actually, now that I think about it, maybe Musk is onto something here? 
Yeah, definitely not 
. Ugh, my mind hurts 
. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start paying for likes and retweets too? 
. The thing is, if you're a legit journalist or influencer, shouldn't your badge of honor be based on who you are and what you do, not how much cash you shell out? 
... was that really just a coincidence or something more? I'm still waiting for someone to explain this to me like I actually understand it 
. It's like the wild west up in here!
meanwhile the NYT took a stand against his monetization plans by not paying for their own verification mark, which is kinda cool 
like whats the point of even havin a label if ur not gettin the real deal tho? 
anyways, dogecoin surged 20% on monday lol i guess u gotta be part of the musk squad to get in on that action 
. but then again, maybe that's exactly what's intended - to weed out the fake accounts and leave only the legit ones 
... or is that just what elon wants us to think 
wouldn't that be super frustrating? 
... what does that even mean?! did they pay for that or something? anyway, i think musk should just stick to one thing, you know? either make the whole system free or charge people for it like he's doing now. but this middle ground is all weird and unpredictable 
