Twitter’s blue ticks were once a free sign of authenticity and fame for users. However, Twitter announced last year that it would implement a strategy called “Twitter Blue” to generate new revenue, whereby blue ticks would now have to be purchased by subscribers for $8 a month.
Non-paying accounts that had a blue tick lost it on Thursday. This move was protested by many recipients, including author Stephen King, NBA champion LeBron James, and former US President Donald Trump.
Twitter’s blue ticks are back
Despite the protests, some high-profile accounts regained their blue ticks on Friday and Saturday, including celebrities such as Stephen King, LeBron James, and Donald Trump.
However, only a tiny fraction of blue-ticked users subscribed – less than 5% of the 407,000 profiles affected. Twitter CEO, Elon Musk, tweeted on Friday that he was personally paying for a few subscriptions.
But for those who unwillingly gained blue ticks, it became a symbol of support for Musk. Tech journalist Kara Swisher tweeted on Saturday that she had gained the blue tick without her consent, stating that “No means no, boys”.
Many other non-paying users who regained their blue ticks made it clear that they did not subscribe to Twitter Blue.
Dead celebrities also received blue ticks
The accounts of some deceased celebrities, such as US chef Anthony Bourdain, also received blue ticks. Furthermore, many official media accounts regained their blue ticks, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), which has not subscribed to Twitter Blue.
The New York Times, which recently had its gold badge reinstated, is one of the major media groups that have a gold tick reserved for an “official business account” paying at least $1,000 a month.
Reinstated ticks did not lure back some broadcasters
However, some broadcasters such as US public radio NPR and Canada’s public broadcaster CBC, who recently suspended activity on their accounts, did not resume tweeting as of Sunday. These broadcasters protested the “state-affiliated” and “government-funded” labels that Twitter attached to them. These labels were previously reserved for non-independent media funded by autocratic governments.
Twitter removed these labels on Friday, including those applied to China’s official news agency Xinhua and Russia’s RT.
Controversy and questions surrounding blue ticks
The reinstatement of blue ticks has sparked controversy, as many non-paying users unwillingly received blue ticks. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which was also bestowed with a blue tick, tweeted on Saturday: “We did not subscribe to Twitter Blue”.
Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, who last July mocked Musk, saying he had “poor impulse control,” said on Saturday: “So my blue check has reappeared. I had nothing to do with that, and am definitely not paying.”
The blue tick has become a contentious symbol, with many users questioning its authenticity and the extent to which it represents a user’s credibility or popularity.
For some, it is seen as a badge of honor, while others view it as a status symbol that can be purchased rather than earned.
Wrapping Up
The reinstatement of blue ticks on some media, celebrities, and other high-profile accounts has generated controversy and raised questions about the authenticity and credibility of Twitter’s verification system.
While some users view the blue tick as a symbol of authenticity and fame, others see it as a status symbol that can be purchased rather than earned.
As Twitter continues to evolve and develop new revenue streams, it will be interesting to see how users respond to these changes and whether they will continue to view the blue tick as a symbol of credibility and popularity.
