Twitter to phase out free legacy verified checkmarks, Musk plans to charge organizations
In a recent move, Twitter announced the phasing out of free legacy verified checkmarks, which have been used to distinguish between authentic and inauthentic users. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, plans to charge organizations $1,000 a month for verified checkmarks and $50 for each affiliated account.
News organizations reject paying for verified checkmarks
Major news organizations, such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, BuzzFeed, POLITICO, and Vox Media, have rejected paying for the feature. The Los Angeles Times expressed concerns about Twitter’s reliability and will not be paying to verify its organization on the platform.
Exceptions made for select staff at news organization
The news editor has made exceptions for a small number of select teams that require verification as a crucial aspect of news gathering and reporting. The chief digital officer stated in a staff memo that the news organization has no plans to pay for Twitter’s subscription service.
Verified checkmarks’ historical significance and Musk’s plans
Verified checkmarks have historically confirmed the identity of the person or business operating a Twitter account. Musk’s plans aim to change Twitter’s business model and make it less reliant on advertisers, many of whom have left the company since he took over last year.
News organizations have no intention of paying for the feature
News organizations have stated that they have no intention of paying for the feature, arguing that verified checkmarks no longer represent authority and expertise. The blue checkmark no longer means that a handle is “verified.”
The uncertain future of verified checkmarks on Twitter
The future of verified checkmarks on Twitter remains uncertain. Musk’s plan to charge organizations for the feature has been met with resistance from news organizations, who have expressed concerns about the changing meaning of verified checkmarks and Twitter’s reliability. It remains to be seen how this will impact Twitter’s community and advertisers in the long run.
