Twitter verification explained

Twitter verification, is a system intended to communicate the authenticity of a Twitter account.[1] Since November 2022, Twitter users whose accounts are at least 90 days old and have a verified phone number receive verification upon subscribing to X Premium or Verified Organizations; this status persists as long as the subscription remains active.

When introduced in June 2009, the system provided the site's readers with a means to distinguish genuine notable account holders, such as celebrities and organizations, from impostors or parodies.[2] [3] Until November 2022, a blue checkmark[4] displayed against an account name indicated that Twitter had taken steps to ensure that the account was actually owned by the person or organization whom it claimed to represent.[5] [6] The checkmark does not imply endorsement from Twitter, and does not mean that tweets from a verified account are necessarily accurate or truthful in any way.[7] People with verified accounts on Twitter are often colloquially referred to as "blue checks" on social media and by reporters.[8]

In November 2022, the verification program was modified heavily by new owner Elon Musk, extending verification to any account with a verified phone number and an active subscription to an eligible X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue) plan. These changes faced criticism from users and the media, who believed that the changes would ease impersonation, and allow accounts spreading misleading information to feign credibility. In a related change, Twitter introduced additional gold and gray checkmarks, used by Verified Organizations and government-affiliated accounts, respectively.[9] Twitter claims that the changes to verification are required to "reduce fraudulent accounts and bots".

Twitter users who had been verified through the previous system were known as "legacy verified" accounts;[10] legacy verification was deprecated in April 2023, and stripped from accounts who do not meet the new payment requirements. Musk later implied that he had been personally paying for the X Premium subscriptions of several notable celebrities.

History

2009–2022

In June 2009, after being criticized by Kanye West and sued by Tony La Russa over unauthorized accounts run by impersonators, the company launched their "Verified Accounts" program.[11] [12] Twitter stated that an account with a "blue tick" verification badge indicates "we've been in contact with the person or entity the account is representing and verified that it is approved".[13] After the beta period, the company stated in their FAQ that it "proactively verifies accounts on an ongoing basis to make it easier for users to find who they're looking for" and that they "do not accept requests for verification from the general public".[14] Originally, Twitter took on the responsibility of reaching out to celebrities and other notable people to confirm their identities in order to establish a verified account.[15]

In July 2016, Twitter announced a public application process to grant verified status to an account "if it is determined to be of public interest" and that verification "does not imply an endorsement".[16] [17] [18] In 2016, the company began accepting requests for verification, but it was discontinued the same year. Twitter explained that the volume of requests for verified accounts had exceeded its ability to cope; rather, Twitter determines on its own whom to approach about verified accounts, limiting verification to accounts which are "authentic, notable, and active".[19] [20]

In November 2020, Twitter announced a relaunch of its verification system in 2021. According to the new policy, Twitter verifies six different types of accounts; for three of them (companies, brands, and influential individuals like activists), the existence of a Wikipedia page will be one criterion for showing that the account has "Off Twitter Notability".[21]

Controversy

On June 21, 2014, actor William Shatner raised an issue with several Engadget editorial staff and their verification status on Twitter. Besides the site's social media editor, John Colucci, Shatner also targeted several junior members of the staff for being "nobodies", unlike some of his actor colleagues who did not bear such distinction. Shatner claimed Colucci and the team were bullying him when giving a text interview to Mashable. [22] Over a month later, Shatner continued to discuss the issue on his Tumblr page,[23] to which Engadget replied by defending its team and discussing the controversy surrounding the social media verification.[24]

Twitter's practice and process for verifying accounts came under scrutiny again in 2017 after the company verified the account of white supremacist and far-right political activist, Jason Kessler. Many who criticized Twitter's decision to verify Kessler's account saw this as a political act on the company's behalf.[25] In response, Twitter put its verification process on hold. The company tweeted, "Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance. We recognize that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. We have paused all general verifications while we work and will report back soon."[26]

As of November 2017, Twitter continued to deny verification of Julian Assange's account following his requests.[27]

In November 2019, Dalit activists of India alleged that higher-caste people get Twitter verification easily and trended hashtags #CancelAllBlueTicksInIndia and #CasteistTwitter.[28] [29] [30] Critics have said that the company's verification process is not transparent and causes digital marginalisation of already marginalised communities.[31] Twitter India rejected the allegations, calling them "impartial" and working on a "case-by-case" policy.[32] [33]

Since November 2022

Following the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk on October 28, 2022, Musk told Twitter employees to introduce paid verification by November 7 through Twitter Blue. The Verge reported that the updated Blue subscription would cost $19.99 per month, and users would lose their verification status if they did not join within 90 days.[34] [35] [36] Following backlash, Musk tweeted, in response to author Stephen King,[37] a lowered $8 price on November 1, 2022.[38] [39] Twitter confirmed the new price of $7.99 per month on November 5, 2022.[40] [41] The new verification system began rollout on November 9, 2022, a day after the 2022 United States elections.[42] The decision to delay its rollout was to address concerns about users potentially spreading misinformation about voting results by posing as news outlets and lawmakers.[43]

At the same time, Twitter introduced a secondary gray "Official" label on some high-profile accounts, but removed them hours after launch.[44] [45] [46] Less than 48 hours later, Twitter reinstated the gray "Official" label,[47] [48] after multiple users were suspended for deliberately impersonating reporters and high-profile athletes like LeBron James.[49] [50] A viral tweet from an account purporting to be the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company caused the company's stock to fall after announcing "insulin is free now".[51] [52] [53] As a result, Twitter disabled new Blue subscriptions on November 11, 2022.[54] [55]

On December 12, 2022, Twitter Blue was relaunched again with some changes, including an increased price of $11 for users who sign up through iOS devices to compensate for the 30% cut imposed by Apple.[56] Twitter stated that only Twitter accounts older than 90 days and with a confirmed phone number are able to subscribe and Blue checkmarks are issued once Twitter reviews the account, and any changes to the profile "will result in the loss of the blue checkmark" until Twitter can review the account again.[57] The "Official" labels were replaced with Verified Organizations, which are displayed with a gold checkmark and square-shaped avatars (as opposed to circular avatars for all other accounts): this program costs $1,000 per-month, with Verified Organizations able to add verification to affiliated accounts for an additional fee of $50 per-month for each account.[58] Grey checkmarks were also added for government accounts on Twitter.[59]

Accounts that had been verified through the previous system were renamed to "legacy verified", with Musk calling the previous system "corrupt and nonsensical" in a tweet, and stating the blue checkmarks on those accounts would be removed "in a few months".[60] Musk claimed that the impersonation issue was resolved by manually reviewing all applications,[61] but The Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler was able to create an impersonation account of senator Ed Markey, which was promptly verified after subscribing to Twitter Blue and only suspended after Fowler's story was published.[62]

On April 24, 2023, a parody account of the defunct Disney Junior channel in the United Kingdom was verified with a gold checkmark.[63] The account, which tweeted profanities and claimed that South Park and Family Guy would be coming to Disney Junior,[64] became viral[65] and was later suspended.[66]

Removal of legacy verification

On March 23, 2023, Twitter announced that on April 1, 2023, it would begin winding down its legacy verification program and removing legacy verified checkmarks.[67] [68] The New York Times reported that exceptions would be made for Twitter's top 500 advertisers and its 10,000 most-followed organizations that had been previously verified.[69] [70] Buzzfeed News reported that multiple news organizations like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times had no plans to pay for Twitter's "Verified Organizations" service nor would they reimburse reporters for having Twitter Blue.[71] Similarly, Axios reported that White House digital strategy director Rob Flaherty sent an internal email to staffers saying "[t]here are ongoing trials for the program that we are monitoring, but we will not enroll in it."[72]

Twitter did not immediately begin removing checkmarks on April 1, 2023. The Washington Post reported that "[the removal] of verification badges is a largely manual process powered by a system prone to breaking" and "[i]n the past, there was no way to reliably remove badges at a bulk scale", according to former Twitter employees.[73] However, on April 2, 2023, the main account for The New York Times became one of the first major media companies to lose its verified status on Twitter. The loss of verification came after Musk replied "Oh ok, we'll take it off then"[74] to a Twitter user who tweeted that The New York Times would not pay for Twitter verification.[75] He criticised the newspaper for tweeting hundreds of posts every day, including drafts that were not accepted into the published editions of the paper, and inundating the daily feed of users who followed it.[76] Despite the deadline for Twitter Blue passing, and aside from The New York Times, many legacy verified accounts continued to retain their verified status. Twitter also updated the language previously used to distinguish between legacy and Twitter Blue-verified users, merging them into a single description,[77] [78] and later unfollowed all legacy verified accounts.[79] On April 11, 2023, Musk announced the final date for removing legacy blue checkmarks to be April 20.[80] [81]

Despite skepticism due to the chosen date,[82] [83] Twitter began removing legacy checkmarks on April 20, 2023.[84] [85] Among those that lost their verified status included Cristiano Ronaldo and Beyoncé.[86] Following the removal of legacy verification, Twitter began verifying the accounts of several celebrities who had been critical of, and did not purchase Twitter Blue, including Stephen King, LeBron James, Hasan Piker, and dril.[87] [88] Musk implied that he was paying for their subscriptions personally.[89] [90] A day later, Twitter updated its policy for Twitter Ads requiring all advertisers to be subscribed to Verified Organizations,[91] but businesses spending at least $1000 a month in advertising would automatically receive membership in the Verified Organizations program at no additional cost.[92] On April 22, 2023, Twitter seemingly began issuing blue and gold[93] checkmarks to accounts with at least a million followers, including those belonging to deceased users such as Anthony Bourdain, Chadwick Boseman, and Kobe Bryant.[94] [95] Since the blue checkmark now indicates an active Twitter Blue subscription, several high-profile users began looking for ways to remove it, usually by briefly changing their display name.[96] [97]

On April 25, 2023, Musk announced that posts by verified accounts would now be prioritized ahead of unverified users, but behind those of the user's own follows, in replies to tweets.[98] [99]

On April 30, 2023, multiple legacy verified users began noticing a bug that temporarily restored the legacy blue checkmark by changing their bio.[100] [101]

On October 17, 2023, X announced that it would trial a scheme requiring new users who register via the website in New Zealand and the Philippines to pay US$1 per-year in order to use the platform. If the user does not subscribe, they will only receive read-only access to the platform. It was stated that this system was required to "bolster our already significant efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity."[102]

Significance and social impact

Prior to the introduction of paid Twitter verification after the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk, verified status was a highly sought-after qualification among Twitter users. Since Twitter alone granted blue checkmarks, they could use them as a passive inducement for users to create more content. Alison Hearn argued in 2017 that they introduce a new social class of Twitter users.[103] This can cause tension between verified and non-verified users of the site; when Twitter temporarily locked out verified accounts in the aftermath of the 2020 Twitter account hijacking, many non-verified users celebrated.[104] [105]

After the blue checkmark was made available as a paid subscription in 2022, reporters noted trolls spreading conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines using the checkmark to feign credibility.[106]

Several fake accounts surfaced following Twitter's move to eliminate the blue tick verification on April 20, 2023. An account pretending to be Hillary Clinton "announced" her intention to run for the presidency again. The said fake account used an identical profile photo as that of the former US senator's legitimate handle. Moreover, a new Twitter handle in New York City claimed to be a legitimate account representing the government.The BBC has noted that the increase in sponsored verification would heighten the spread of false information on the platform.[107]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sawers . Paul . 2023-04-21 . Twitter seemingly now requires all advertisers to have a verified checkmark . 2023-04-26 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  2. News: Staff . PCMag . Phew! Twitter Verifies Celebrity Tweets as Authentic . 6 February 2021 . . AppScout . 12 June 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210206202337/https://www.pcmag.com/archive/phew-twitter-verifies-celebrity-tweets-as-authentic-241349 . 6 February 2021.
  3. News: Cashmore . Pete . Twitter Launches Verified Accounts . 6 February 2021 . . 11 June 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090615040324/https://mashable.com/2009/06/11/twitter-verified-accounts-2 . 15 June 2009 . It'll also solve the entrenched problem of celebrity impersonations, which are confusing for users and unwelcome by those being impersonated..
  4. Web site: How to get verified on Twitter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221111194130/https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/about-twitter-verified-accounts . November 11, 2022 . November 12, 2022 . Twitter.
  5. Web site: Manfredi. Lucas. 2020-07-15. Twitter's Blue Checkmark explained. live. 2021-02-03. Fox Business. 2021-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210209152347/https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/twitters-blue-checkmark-explained.
  6. Web site: Kanalley. Craig. 2013-03-12. Why Twitter Verifies Users. live. 2021-02-03. Huffington Post. 2018-09-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20180927015328/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-kanalley/twitter-verified-accounts_b_2863282.html.
  7. Web site: Welch. Chris. 2018-07-17. Twitter says it doesn't 'have the bandwidth' to fix verification right now. live. 2021-02-03. The Verge. 2021-01-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128084309/https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/17/17583624/twitter-cant-fix-verification-because-elections.
  8. Web site: Bishop. Rollin. March 30, 2017. 'Verified' is now a derogatory term on Twitter. live. 2021-02-03. The Outline. 2020-11-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129082026/https://theoutline.com/post/1323/verified-blue-checkmark-derogatory-insult-twitter.
  9. Web site: Twitter Blue is back. And gold checkmarks are here! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221226115721/https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2022/twitter-blue-update . 2022-12-26 . 2022-12-20 . blog.twitter.com . en-us.
  10. Web site: Bellan . Rebecca . 12 December 2022 . Elon says X will remove all legacy verifications 'in a few months' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213003412/https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/12/elon-says-twitter-will-remove-all-legacy-verifications-in-a-few-months/ . 13 December 2022 . 13 December 2022 . TechCrunch.
  11. Web site: Not Playing Ball . Biz . Stone . June 6, 2009 . Twitter . September 22, 2021 . April 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190427151225/https://blog.twitter.com/official/en_us/a/2009/not-playing-ball.html . live .
  12. News: Kanalley. Craig. Why Twitter Verifies Users: The History Behind the Blue Checkmark. June 9, 2014. Huffington Post. March 12, 2013. September 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180927015328/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-kanalley/twitter-verified-accounts_b_2863282.html. live.
  13. Web site: Cashmore. Pete. Twitter Launches Verified Accounts. Mashable. June 11, 2009. June 9, 2014. April 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416180545/https://mashable.com/2009/06/11/twitter-verified-accounts-2/. live.
  14. Web site: FAQs about verified accounts . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20160719090643/https://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics/topics/111-features/articles/119135-about-verified-accounts . July 19, 2016 .
  15. Book: Warfield, Katie. Mediated Interfaces: The Body on Social Media. Bloomsbury. 55.
  16. Web site: About verified accounts . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20160720094013/https://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics/topics/111-features/articles/119135-about-verified-accounts . July 20, 2016 .
  17. Web site: Announcing an Application Process for Verified Accounts . July 19, 2016 . Twitter . September 22, 2021 . June 21, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190621141545/https://blog.twitter.com/official/en_us/a/2016/announcing-an-application-process-for-verified-accounts-0.html . live .
  18. Twitter opens verification to all. Matt. Burgess. Wired. July 20, 2016. September 16, 2016. April 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190427150245/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/how-to-get-verified-twitter-uk-account-blue-tick. live.
  19. Web site: Delo. Cotton. 2012-01-10. One Way to Get a Twitter 'Verified Account': Buy Ads. live. 2021-02-03. Ad Age. 2021-02-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210208221027/https://adage.com/article/digital/a-twitter-verified-account-buy-ads/231984.
  20. Web site: About verified accounts. live. 2021-02-03. help.twitter.com. 2017-12-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20171205180212/https://support.twitter.com/articles/119135.
  21. Web site: Harrison. Stephen. December 4, 2020. Twitter Wants to Use Wikipedia to Help Determine Who Gets a Blue Checkmark. December 4, 2020. Slate Magazine. March 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210325175408/https://slate.com/technology/2020/12/twitter-checkmark-verification-wikipedia-notability.html. live.
  22. Web site: Ulanoff . Lance . William Shatner: My Problem With Twitter's Verified Accounts . Engadget . June 24, 2014 . August 17, 2014 . August 19, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083206/http://mashable.com/2014/06/24/william-shatner-twitter-verified/ . live .
  23. Web site: Shatner . William . Abusing Verification – Segueing with Shatner . Engadget . July 29, 2014 . August 17, 2014 . August 19, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819102930/http://williamshatner.tumblr.com/post/93274499035/abusing-verification-segueing-with-shatner . live .
  24. Web site: Lee . Nicole . The perks of being 'somebody' online . Engadget . July 31, 2014 . August 27, 2017 . September 13, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170913124333/https://www.engadget.com/2014/07/31/the-perks-of-being-somebody-online/ . live .
  25. News: Bowles. Nellie. 2017-11-09. Twitter, Facing Another Uproar, Pauses Its Verification Process. The New York Times. 2021-04-16. 0362-4331. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416055131/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/technology/jason-kessler-twitter-verification.html. live.
  26. 928654369771356162. twittersupport. Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance. We recognize that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. We have paused all general verifications while we work and will report back soon. November 9, 2017. 2021-04-16.
  27. Twitter's Authentication Policy Is a Verified Mess . November 10, 2017 . Nitasha . Tiku . Wired . September 22, 2021 . August 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180828174246/https://www.wired.com/story/twitters-authentication-policy-is-a-verified-mess/ . live .
  28. News:
    1. CancelAllBlueTicksInIndia trends on Twitter, netizens slam caste-based discrimination
    . November 6, 2019. The Economic Times. February 6, 2020. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308163247/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/cancelallblueticksinindia-trends-on-twitter-netizens-slam-caste-based-discrimination/articleshow/71939831.cms?from=mdr. live.
  29. Web site:
    1. cancelallBlueTicksinIndia Trends As Twitter Faces Caste Storm
    . November 6, 2019. The Quint. en. February 6, 2020. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308155207/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/twitter-trend-cancelallblueticksinindia-dalits-accuse-twitter-of-casteism-discrimination. live.
  30. Web site: Why Dalit activists are furious with 'casteist' Twitter. Free Press Journal. en. February 6, 2020. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308060835/https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/why-dalit-activists-are-furious-with-casteist-twitter. live.
  31. Web site: 'The Blue Janeu': As Critics Cry 'Casteism', Twitter Ducks for Cover. The Wire. February 6, 2020. March 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210302113808/https://thewire.in/caste/twitter-casteism-2. live.
  32. Web site: Twitter reacts to accusations of caste bias, says it's 'impartial'. Free Press Journal. en. February 6, 2020. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308085832/https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/twitter-reacts-to-accusations-of-caste-bias-says-its-impartial. live.
  33. Web site: Twitter Cites 'Case-By-Case' Verification Policy as Casteism Allegations Ravage Platform. News18. November 7, 2019. February 6, 2020. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308141414/https://www.news18.com/news/tech/twitter-cites-case-by-case-verification-policy-as-casteism-allegations-ravage-platform-2376813.html. live.
  34. Web site: Twitter is planning to start charging $20 per month for verification . October 30, 2022 . Heath . Alex . The Verge . October 30, 2022 . December 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221224195748/https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/30/23431931/twitter-paid-verification-elon-musk-blue-monthly-subscription . live .
  35. Web site: Spangler . Todd . Elon Musk Reportedly Wants Twitter Verified Users to Pay $20 per Month — or Lose Their Blue Check Marks . Variety . 10 November 2022 . 31 October 2022 . 10 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221110043949/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/twitter-verified-users-subscription-price-blue-check-mark-musk-1235418285/ . live .
  36. Web site: Humphries . Matthew . Twitter Expected to Start Charging $20 Per Month for a Blue Checkmark . PCMAG . 10 November 2022 . 10 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221110044010/https://www.pcmag.com/news/twitter-expected-to-start-charging-20-per-month-for-a-blue-checkmark . live .
  37. . elonmusk . 1587312517679878144 . @StephenKing We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?.
  38. Web site: Spangler . Todd . Elon Musk Suggests Charging $8 per Month for Twitter Verification After Backlash to Reported $20 Fee . Variety . 10 November 2022 . 1 November 2022 . 10 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221110043950/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/elon-musk-suggests-8-dollars-per-month-twitter-verification-backlash-1235419369/ . live .
  39. Web site: Assaly . Richie . Elon Musk's plans to charge $8 a month for verification on Twitter receives heavy backlash . thestar.com . 10 November 2022 . 2 November 2022 . 10 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221110043950/https://www.thestar.com/business/2022/11/02/elon-musks-plans-to-charge-8-a-month-for-verification-on-twitter-is-receiving-backlash.html . live .
  40. Web site: Wiggers . Kyle . Twitter begins rolling out $7.99 Twitter Blue plan with verification, fewer ads . TechCrunch . 6 November 2022 . 5 November 2022 . 5 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221105232258/https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/05/twitter-begins-rolling-out-7-99-twitter-blue-plan-with-verification-fewer-ads/ . live .
  41. Web site: Roth . Emma . Elon Musk's $7.99 Twitter Blue with verification is 'coming soon' on iOS . The Verge . 6 November 2022 . 5 November 2022 . 6 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221106015154/https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/5/23442149/twitter-blue-checkmark-ios-update-elon-musk . live .
  42. Web site: O'Sullivan . Donie . Korn . Jennifer . Elon Musk delays $8 'blue check' Twitter verification plan until after the midterms CNN Business . CNN . 9 November 2022 . 6 November 2022 . 8 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108173944/https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/06/tech/twitter-verification-delay-midterms/index.html . live .
  43. Web site: Mac . Ryan . Conger . Kate . Isaac . Mike . Twitter Is Said to Delay Changes to Check Mark Badges Until After Midterms . The New York Times . 9 November 2022 . 6 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109201014/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/06/technology/twitter-verification-check-marks.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes . live .
  44. Web site: Wile . Rob . Twitter launches $7.99 subscription, which lets users pay for a checkmark . NBC News . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109174004/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/twitter-adds-removes-gray-official-tag-big-accounts-rcna56392 . live .
  45. Web site: Sato . Mia . Twitter's new double-check verification disappears, Elon Musk says he 'killed it' . The Verge . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109174212/https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/9/23449422/elon-musk-twitter-blue-official-verified-gray-checks-disappear . live .
  46. Elon Musk. elonmusk . 1590383366213611522 . @MKBHD I just killed it.
  47. Web site: November 11, 2022 . Twitter Blue signups unavailable after problems with fake accounts . 2022-11-12 . abc10.com . 2022-11-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221130020051/https://www.abc10.com/article/news/nation-world/twitter-gray-official-labels-return-for-some/507-c13e9cf4-0ae2-47fd-a04c-badc0b0eb65d . live .
  48. Web site: Twitter brings back "official" label after verified impersonator accounts run wild . 2022-11-11 . www.cbsnews.com . 11 November 2022 . 2022-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221226075936/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/twitter-official-label-elon-musk-impersonation/ . live .
  49. Web site: Tolentino . Daysia . Rosenblatt . Kalhan . Lebron James and other athletes impersonated by verified Twitter accounts . NBC News . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109214345/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/lebron-james-athletes-impersonated-verified-twitter-accounts-rcna56483 . live .
  50. Web site: Marcin . Tim . People started spreading fake news on Twitter the instant they could buy a blue check . Mashable . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109220247/http://mashable.com/article/fake-news-blue-check-tweets-verification . live .
  51. Web site: DiBenedetto . Chase . Insulin producer Eli Lilly sees stock drop because of a fake blue check tweet . Mashable . 14 November 2022 . 12 November 2022 . 13 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221113235104/https://mashable.com/article/eli-lilly-stock-dip-twitter . live .
  52. Web site: Lee . Bruce Y. . Fake Eli Lilly Twitter Account Claims Insulin Is Free, Stock Falls 4.37% . Forbes . 14 November 2022 . 15 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221115001100/https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2022/11/12/fake-eli-lilly-twitter-account-claims-insulin-is-free-stock-falls-43/?sh=15b147b941a3 . live .
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  54. Web site: Zahn . Max . Twitter's $8 verification option appears to be unavailable for some users . ABC News . 11 November 2022 . 11 November 2022 . 11 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221111192244/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/twitters-verification-option-appears-unavailable-users/story?id=93116125 . live .
  55. Web site: Ray . Siladitya . Twitter Blue: Signups For Paid Verification Appear Suspended After Impersonator Chaos . Forbes . 11 November 2022 . 11 November 2022 . 11 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221111202451/https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/11/11/twitter-blue-new-signups-for-paid-verification-appear-suspended-after-impersonator-chaos/?sh=788be97e385c . live .
  56. News: Twitter's paid blue tick re-launches after pause . 12 December 2022 . BBC News . December 12, 2022 . December 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221224191509/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63938566 . live .
  57. Web site: Clark . Mitchell . Twitter Blue is back, letting you buy a blue checkmark again . The Verge . 13 December 2022 . 12 December 2022 . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213001207/https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/12/23506335/twitter-blue-verified-checkmarks-return-impersonation . live .
  58. Web site: Schroeder . Stan . 2023-03-31 . Twitter now lets businesses handle their employees' blue ticks, for a hefty price . 2023-05-04 . Mashable . en.
  59. Web site: Wiggers . Kyle . Twitter launches Blue for Business, grants gold checkmarks to 'corporate entities' . TechCrunch . 13 December 2022 . 12 December 2022 . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213003136/https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/12/twitter-launches-blue-for-business-grants-gold-checkmarks-to-corporate-entities/ . live .
  60. Elon Musk. elonmusk . 1602407011106361362 . @micsolana In a few months, we will remove all legacy blue checks. The way in which they were given out was corrupt and nonsensical..
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  62. News: Fowler . Geoffrey A. . January 5, 2023 . Perspective Twitter said it fixed 'verification.' So I impersonated a senator (again). . Washington Post . limited . 2023-02-25 . 0190-8286 . 2023-02-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230221173828/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/05/twitter-blue-verification/ . live .
  63. Web site: Whittock . Jesse . Fake Disney Junior Twitter Account With Gold Tick Suspended — But Not Before Using Profanities And Racial Slur . Deadline . 1 May 2023 . 24 April 2023.
  64. Web site: Yossman . K. J. . Twitter Gave a Fake Disney Junior Account That Uses Racial Slurs a Gold Checkmark Verification . Variety . 1 May 2023 . 24 April 2023.
  65. Web site: Twitter gives fake Disney account verified status . BBC News . 1 May 2023 . 24 April 2023.
  66. Web site: Barr . Kyle . Twitter Gave a Gold Checkmark to a Fake, Foul-Mouthed Disney Account . Gizmodo . 1 May 2023 . en . 24 April 2023.
  67. Web site: Spangler . Todd . Twitter to Revoke 'Legacy' Verified Badges in April, Leaving Only Paying Subscribers With Blue Check-Marks . Variety . 31 March 2023 . 23 March 2023 . 30 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230330193235/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/twitter-revokes-legacy-verification-blue-checkmarks-april-1235561515/ . live .
  68. verified . 1639029459557679104 . On April 1st, we will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks. . ((Twitter Verified)).
  69. Web site: McCabe . David . Conger . Kate . Elon Musk Tried to Meet With F.T.C. Chair About Twitter but Was Rebuffed . The New York Times . 1 April 2023 . 30 March 2023 . 1 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401000250/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/technology/elon-musk-ftc-chair.html . live .
  70. Web site: Rosenblatt . Kalhan . Some of Twitter's top users aren't afraid of losing their blue check marks . NBC News . 31 March 2023 . 2023-04-01 . 2023-04-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401043449/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/twitter-blue-check-mark-cost-how-much-verified-rcna77432 . live .
  71. Web site: Notopoulos . Katie . Dixit . Pranav . Newsrooms Ponder Whether To Pay For Journalists' Twitter Blue Checks . BuzzFeed News . 30 March 2023 . 31 March 2023 . 31 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230331002606/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/journalists-blue-checks-newsrooms-twitter-verification . live .
  72. Web site: Fischer . Sara . Scoop: White House won't pay for Twitter verification . Axios . 31 March 2023 . 31 March 2023 . 31 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230331180601/https://www.axios.com/2023/03/31/twitter-verification-white-house-biden-check-mark . live .
  73. News: Lerman . Rachel . Siddiqui . Faiz . Twitter's blue check mark was loved and loathed. Now it's pay for play. . Washington Post . 5 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405092515/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/31/twitter-verification-checkmark-ending/ . live .
  74. elonmusk . 1642383150230773760 . @cb_doge Oh ok, we'll take it off then . Elon Musk.
  75. Web site: McShane . Julianne . Twitter hasn't removed verified check marks — except from The New York Times . NBC News . 2 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405025909/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/twitter-hasnt-removed-verified-check-marks-new-york-rcna77824 . live .
  76. Web site: Syme . Pete . 2023-04-18 . Elon Musk says news organizations should only tweet 10 stories a day, after he tweeted more than 100 times over the weekend . Business Insider . 2023-04-18 . 2023-04-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230418211134/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-says-nyt-tweet-less-after-100-weekend-tweets-2023-4 . live .
  77. Web site: Alex . Hern . TechScape: Elon Musk promised to take away the blue ticks – so why hasn't he? . . 5 April 2023 . 4 April 2023 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404235538/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/apr/04/techscape-twitter-blue-ticks-elon-musk . live .
  78. Web site: Spangler . Todd . Elon Musk's Twitter Updates Verified User Descriptions so You Can't Tell Who Paid for a Blue Check-Mark Anymore . Variety . 9 April 2023 . 2 April 2023 . 9 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230409005213/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/twitter-updates-verified-user-descriptions-paid-blue-check-1235571165/ . live .
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  80. elonmusk . Elon Musk . 1645863107175284738 . Final date for removing legacy Blue checks is 4/20.
  81. Web site: Spangler . Todd . Elon Musk Says Twitter 'Final Date' for Removing Legacy Blue Check-Marks Is 4/20 . Variety . 17 April 2023 . 11 April 2023 . 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416234549/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/twitter-musk-date-removal-blue-checkmarks-legacy-1235570782/ . live .
  82. Web site: Peters . Jay . Twitter promises it's really, actually removing legacy blue checks very soon . The Verge . 20 April 2023 . 19 April 2023 . 19 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419232004/https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/19/23690077/twitter-verified-checkmarks-removing-legacy-blue . live .
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  84. Web site: Porter . Jon . Twitter begins removing blue checkmarks from all legacy users . The Verge . 20 April 2023 . 20 April 2023 . 20 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230420181842/https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/20/23690820/twitter-verified-blue-checkmark-legacy-elon-musk . live .
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  86. News: Beyoncé and Ronaldo among those to lose Twitter blue check in purge. BBC. 2023-04-22. 2023-04-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20230422012235/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-65344010. live.
  87. News: Elon Musk pays for Stephen King and LeBron James to keep Twitter blue ticks . The Guardian . 21 April 2023 . 2023-04-23 . 2023-04-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230423011026/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/apr/21/elon-musk-pays-stephen-king-lebron-james-keep-twitter-blue-ticks . live . Milmo . Dan .
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  98. Web site: Schroeder . Stan . 2023-04-25 . Elon Musk says verified Twitter accounts are now prioritized, whatever that means . 2023-04-30 . Mashable . en.
  99. News: March 20, 2023 . Twitter to prioritise replies from followed and verified users . The Times of India . July 21, 2023 . 0971-8257.
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  101. Web site: Luna . Elizabeth de . This Twitter bug will give you back your blue check... sort of . Mashable . 1 May 2023 . en . 1 May 2023.
  102. Web site: Heath . Alex . 2023-10-18 . X will start charging new users in two countries $1 per year . 2023-10-18 . The Verge . en.
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