Twitter users with legacy verified check marks, like celebrities, journalists, and media organisations, will lose their blue ticks tomorrow, according to Elon Musk.
Twitter’s CEO has introduced a new policy requiring users to sign up for the Twitter Blue subscription service if they want a blue check.
Traditionally, people with notable accounts could get a verification check to prove their account was notable and real, and to distinguish them from fake accounts or parody accounts.
Now, anyone unwilling to pay for a Twitter subscription will lose their tick.
Several celebrities and media organisations have said they’re giving up their blue tick because they refuse to pay for Twitter.
Rapper Ice T said: “I heard Twitter is gonna take away the Blue checkmarks if you don’t pay... F*** that checkmark... I guess it matters to some people..”
I heard Twitter is gonna take away the Blue checkmarks if you don't pay... Fuck that checkmark... I guess it matters to some people..
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) March 29, 2023
Stephen King said: “$20 a month to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.”
$20 a month to keep my blue check? Fuck that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 31, 2022
Actor William Shatner said: “Hey Elon Musk what’s this about blue checks going away unless we pay Twitter? I’ve been here for 15 years giving my [time] and witty thoughts all for bupkis.
“Now you’re telling me that I have to pay for something you gave me for free? What is this-the Colombia Records and Tape Club?”
Hey @elonmusk what’s this about blue checks going away unless we pay Twitter? I’ve been here for 15 years giving my ⏰ & witty thoughts all for bupkis. Now you’re telling me that I have to pay for something you gave me for free? What is this-the Colombia Records & Tape Club?🙄
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 26, 2023
Jason Alexander said: “Friends, there are bigger issues in the [world] than the blue verified [check] next to my name on this account. But without it, anyone can allege to be me.
“So, if I lose that [check] know I will leave this platform. Anyone appearing with it=an imposter. I tell you this while I’m still official.”
Friends, there are bigger issues in the 🌎than the blue verified ✔️next to my name on this account. But without it, anyone can allege to be me. So, if I lose that ✔️ know I will leave this platform. Anyone appearing with it=an imposter. I tell you this while I’m still official.
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) March 28, 2023
YouTuber Jacksepticeye said: “Me to my blue check mark when it goes away soon cos I won’t be paying for Twitter”.
Me to my blue check mark when it goes away soon cos I won't be paying for Twitter pic.twitter.com/53nwhVQVTw
— Jacksepticeye (@Jacksepticeye) March 30, 2023
A number of media organisations have also said they will not pay for their reporters to have verified check marks, like The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, POLITICO, Vox Media, and The Washington Post.
"We also will not reimburse reporters for the verification of personal accounts," The NYT spokesperson adds to me, "except in rare instances where verified status would be essential for reporting purposes."
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 30, 2023
