As of today, all pre-Elon Musk blue check marks are no more. After a confusing several few weeks, Twitter has finally phased out its legacy verification program. Since Musk took over the company in 2022, he implemented Twitter Blue, which offers the once rare blue check to any customer willing to pay for it.
The new feature has raised concerns from both the press and government officials alike. While the Platform still offers an enrollment program for U.S.-government affiliated accounts, there is no system that combats misinformation or accounts impersonating journalists or news organizations. Recently, National Public Radio (NPR) announced their departure from the social media giant, citing Musk insinuating that they were a government funded organization, which is not the case.
After initially announcing that legacy verification would end April 1, blue check holders were relieved to see that their checks remained in tact. Instead of initially removing them, the platform added a tag that read that the user either paid for the new subscription service or had a legacy verified account. Today, the blue check holders of old woke up to disappointing news. Today, users across the platform are humorously mourning the death of their blue checks.
Mourning The Blue Check Era
Celebrities, including rapper Lil Nas X, are sharing memes of what life could like in a post-blue check era.
me after i lose my blue check tomorrow pic.twitter.com/XVLjHlSZh2
— ✟ (@LilNasX) April 20, 2023
They finally took my blue check. pic.twitter.com/rgOjFzS3m0
— Kevín (@KevOnStage) April 20, 2023
Many are noting Musk’s targeted decisions about the blue checks. Author Stephen King has been an open critic of Musk’s ethical practices, and Musk purposely left his legacy check after King said he refused to pay for Twitter Blue.
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lol the blue check is a punishment now pic.twitter.com/8r0808bjVu
— Matt Pearce ???????????? (@mattdpearce) April 20, 2023
Several companies and non-profit organizations are taking their de-verified status to educate audiences on their missions. The Los Angeles Public library reminded followers that they have existed since long before the blue check era.
The library The library
with a blue check without a blue check pic.twitter.com/TuLr3rD26R— L.A. Public Library (@LAPublicLibrary) April 20, 2023
We're still here, but we don't give our money to union-busting billionaires.
Bye bye blue check! pic.twitter.com/Br014UHIPq
— AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) April 20, 2023
In solidarity with NPR, several news organizations, media personalities, and celebrities are standing up to Elon Musk. Several prominent figures announced today that they do not intend to pay for a blue check.
goodbye little blue check!
i’m free! https://t.co/Bwm0jN2y2v— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) April 20, 2023
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FINALLY got rid of the blue check
— FINNEAS (@finneas) April 20, 2023
Users on the social giant are acknowledging the changing attitude surrounding verification. The blue check long symbolized a new level of stardom and public recognition, but now, indicates support of one of the most controversial faces of tech.
LeBron declining even a free blue check and having his team clarify that Musk gave him one anyway kind of implies that it now has negative social value and the celebs perceive it to be damaging to their brands to have one.
— mary (@theoceanblooms) April 20, 2023
NEW: Have confirmed that LeBron, who has 52 million followers and has said he won’t pay for verification, was emailed by a Twitter employee with the offer to have his sub comped “on behalf of Elon Musk.”
James did not accept but his account is showing that he paid anyway.
— Alex Heath (@alexeheath) April 20, 2023
Meanwhile, Musk is busy elsewhere today–his SpaceX Starship test launch blew up. According to a report from the New York Times, the rocket exploded minutes after its launch in South Texas this morning. Musk tweeted that SpaceX “learned a lot” from the test.
Congrats @SpaceX team on an exciting test launch of Starship!
Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months. pic.twitter.com/gswdFut1dK
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2023
Elon Musk has not commented further on today’s moment in blue check history.
