Twitter To Remove Blue Check Marks Starting April 1

Twitter is over $13 billion in debt. Many advertisers have fled. But CEO Elon Musk said the company has a shot at becoming cash-flow positiv...

Twitter is over $13 billion in debt. Many advertisers have fled. But CEO Elon Musk said the company has a shot at becoming cash-flow positive/Preston Jessee.

Twitter is set to remove the coveted blue checkmarks from accounts that were granted the status prior to 2021. The move comes as part of Twitter's ongoing efforts to improve the transparency and accuracy of the verification process, which has been criticized for being opaque and arbitrary.

Starting from April 1, Twitter will remove the blue checkmark from accounts that were verified under the old system. The old system allowed users to apply for verification, but the process was not transparent, and Twitter often granted the status to accounts that did not meet the criteria. In 2021, Twitter introduced a new verification process that is more transparent and objective, but many users who were verified under the old system still have the blue checkmark on their profile.

The blue checkmark, which indicates that an account is verified, has been a status symbol on Twitter for years. It is meant to signal that the account belongs to a public figure, celebrity, or other influential person, and that the information they share is reliable. However, the checkmark has also been the subject of controversy, with some users accusing Twitter of bias and favoritism in the verification process.

Twitter's decision to remove the legacy blue checkmarks is likely to be met with mixed reactions from users. Some may see it as a way to level the playing field and ensure that the verification process is fair and transparent. Others may see it as a loss of status and prestige, particularly for users who have built their online persona around their verified status.

In a statement, Twitter said that the move is part of its ongoing efforts to improve the verification process and ensure that it accurately reflects the accounts that meet the criteria for verification. The company also said that it will be introducing new criteria for verification in the coming months, and that it will be reviewing and verifying accounts on an ongoing basis.

Overall, Twitter's decision to remove the legacy blue checkmarks is a significant step in its efforts to improve transparency and accuracy on the platform. While it may be a difficult transition for some users, it is ultimately a necessary one if Twitter is to maintain its credibility as a source of reliable information and a platform for meaningful discourse.