The deadline for the mass removal of Twitter’s “legacy checkmark” accounts has come and gone, leaving many users wondering if Elon Musk’s threat to strip notable accounts of their verification status was a bad April Fools prank.
Twitter’s verification checkmarks, originally gifted to high-profile users and journalists as a stamp of authenticity, were due to be removed on April 1st, leaving only Musk’s $8 Twitter Blue checkmarks; so far, many media outlets and A-list celebrities have refused to pay the subscription.
On the supposed “final day” of free verification, celebrity Twitter-addict Chrissy Teigen posted a tongue-in-cheek farewell to her followers, confirming that she will not be paying Musk for a blue checkmark.
Jack Black recently gave a simple explanation for why the rich and famous have been reluctant to pay:
“I’m a little embarrassed by the blue check to be honest with you,” Black told Variety. “Maybe it’s cooler not to have checks. It’s definitely not cool to pay for it. I’m gonna see what happens if I don’t pay for it. I’m gonna call his bluff, see if he really takes my check away.”
Thus far, Black’s instincts have proved correct; the actor’s legacy checkmark is still there, along with other celebrities. LeBron James has also confirmed that he would not pay Musk for Twitter Blue.
James’ tweet was retweeted by Nathan Hubbard, a former Twitter media team head who explained the problems with Musk’s plan.
In a lengthy thread, Hubbard explained that much of the value of Twitter comes from its userbase, particularly public figures and celebrities. Checkmarks were never intended to be a treat or status symbol, simply a verification tool, that ensured Twitter users knew they were interacting with a famous person.
Without the legacy checkmarks, Twitter risks driving away creators and enabling impersonators, who might be willing to pay $8 per month to spread misinformation, with the help of Twitter Blue.
Monica Lewinsky also expressed concern that scammers and copycats were about to take advantage of the new Twitter landscape, and clarified that she could also be found on Instagram.
When asked, MCU star Chris Pratt didn’t seem threatened by the possibility of Twitter Blue imposters, wishing them a sarcastic “good luck.”
Ice Spice, who does not have a checkmark, tweeted earlier this month: “1M on here is heavy blue check wya :’),” suggesting that her large following was enough to verify her account.
Dionne Warwick expressed contempt at the thought of paying for verification, while Jason Alexander told his followers that if his checkmark disappears, he will leave the platform.
William Shatner complained directly to the manager, writing: "Hey @elonmusk what’s this about blue checks going away unless we pay Twitter?"
Musk responded directly to Shatner, insisting that his $8 fee was about “treating everyone equally.”
Respected news organizations such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CNN, the Washington Post, BuzzFeed, POLITICO, and Vox have rejected the idea of paying for verification.
So far, the only major account to lose their legacy checkmark appears to be the New York Times, after a user tweeted Musk, writing: “New York Times says it won’t pay for Twitter verification.”
Musk replied, “Oh ok, we’ll take it off then,” before writing a rant about the publication: “Their feed is the Twitter equivalent of diarrhea. It’s unreadable. They would have far more real followers if they only posted their top articles. Same applies to all publications.”
Notably, the smaller accounts associated with the New York Times still have their legacy checkmarks, for some reason.
No one seems to know what will happen next; the Washington Post reported that Twitter doesn’t actually have the technical capacity to sweep away all the legacy checkmarks, and that removing them will be a complex, labor-intensive process.
Instead of removing the old checkmarks, Twitter has removed the distinction between a legacy checkmark and an $8 Twitter Blue subscription. Many joked that a popular meme intended to mock Twitter Blue subscribers had motivated the change.
Ever since Musk entered Twitter HQ carrying a kitchen sink, the site has been engulfed in chaos and controversy; the checkmark fiasco marks another humiliating battle between Musk and his site’s userbase.
Twitter’s future remains uncertain, but at the moment, it looks like Jack Black had the right idea.
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April 04, 2023 at 02:01AM
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LeBron James, Chrissy Teigen And More Celebrities Refuse To Pay Elon Musk For A Twitter Blue Checkmark - Forbes
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