Elon Musk's Twitter Purge Leaves Many Confused as He Singles Out a Notable Account for Removal of Blue Check Marks.
In a move that has left many users baffled, Elon Musk's Twitter appears to have mistakenly targeted a single account - the New York Times' main account - for removal from its coveted blue check marks system. The platform had announced earlier this year that it would "begin winding down" blue checks granted under its old verification system, effective April 1, and users would need to pay $8 per month to join Twitter Blue's subscription service.
However, instead of removing all legacy blue checks as planned, Twitter opted to append a new label to verified accounts, making it unclear whether these accounts are notable individuals or simply users who have paid for verification. This move has raised concerns that the platform is creating confusion and whiplash among its most high-profile accounts.
The New York Times' main account lost its blue check mark over the weekend after posting a meme about the Times declining to pay for verification, which Musk took as an opportunity to lash out at the outlet in a series of tweets. The billionaire claimed that the Times' coverage is boring and "propaganda," further muddying the waters.
Musk's decision has sparked criticism from experts in inauthentic behavior, who argue that the new labeling system could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users. Additionally, there are concerns that reserving verification for paid users will not necessarily reduce the number of bots on the site, an issue Musk has highlighted previously.
The move also highlights how Musk often appears to guide decisions about Twitter more by whim than by policy. By targeting a single notable account - in this case, the New York Times' main account - Musk has raised questions about the platform's verification system and the motivations behind his decisions.
As one of the most influential people on the platform, Musk has repeatedly said that there shouldn't be a different standard for celebrities when it comes to verification. However, his actions suggest otherwise, sparking debate among users and experts alike.
The controversy is not just about Twitter's verification system but also about Musk's plans to drive revenue through paid features like Twitter Blue. With the platform facing significant debt after its acquisition, these changes could be seen as a way for Musk to monetize his influence and control over the platform.
In recent days, Twitter has made several other puzzling moves, including replacing its blue bird logo with doge, the meme representing the cryptocurrency dogecoin, which Musk promotes. The price of dogecoin shot up 20% on Monday, further highlighting the platform's connection to Musk's personal interests.
The situation serves as a reminder that Twitter is not just a social media platform but also a reflection of its founder's personality and values. As one expert noted, "There shouldn't be a different standard for celebrities," but it seems that in this case, there certainly is.
In a move that has left many users baffled, Elon Musk's Twitter appears to have mistakenly targeted a single account - the New York Times' main account - for removal from its coveted blue check marks system. The platform had announced earlier this year that it would "begin winding down" blue checks granted under its old verification system, effective April 1, and users would need to pay $8 per month to join Twitter Blue's subscription service.
However, instead of removing all legacy blue checks as planned, Twitter opted to append a new label to verified accounts, making it unclear whether these accounts are notable individuals or simply users who have paid for verification. This move has raised concerns that the platform is creating confusion and whiplash among its most high-profile accounts.
The New York Times' main account lost its blue check mark over the weekend after posting a meme about the Times declining to pay for verification, which Musk took as an opportunity to lash out at the outlet in a series of tweets. The billionaire claimed that the Times' coverage is boring and "propaganda," further muddying the waters.
Musk's decision has sparked criticism from experts in inauthentic behavior, who argue that the new labeling system could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users. Additionally, there are concerns that reserving verification for paid users will not necessarily reduce the number of bots on the site, an issue Musk has highlighted previously.
The move also highlights how Musk often appears to guide decisions about Twitter more by whim than by policy. By targeting a single notable account - in this case, the New York Times' main account - Musk has raised questions about the platform's verification system and the motivations behind his decisions.
As one of the most influential people on the platform, Musk has repeatedly said that there shouldn't be a different standard for celebrities when it comes to verification. However, his actions suggest otherwise, sparking debate among users and experts alike.
The controversy is not just about Twitter's verification system but also about Musk's plans to drive revenue through paid features like Twitter Blue. With the platform facing significant debt after its acquisition, these changes could be seen as a way for Musk to monetize his influence and control over the platform.
In recent days, Twitter has made several other puzzling moves, including replacing its blue bird logo with doge, the meme representing the cryptocurrency dogecoin, which Musk promotes. The price of dogecoin shot up 20% on Monday, further highlighting the platform's connection to Musk's personal interests.
The situation serves as a reminder that Twitter is not just a social media platform but also a reflection of its founder's personality and values. As one expert noted, "There shouldn't be a different standard for celebrities," but it seems that in this case, there certainly is.
. Like, Elon Musk wants to shake things up on Twitter and make more money off it, but in doing so, he's creating confusion and uncertainty for users. And you know what really gets my gears turning? He's using this move as an opportunity to bash out at a big-name outlet like the New York Times 
. What does that even say about him? Is he trying to distract from his own actions or just show off his power? I mean, shouldn't verification be about authenticity and trustworthiness, not some quirk of personality 
. And what about those users who can't afford to pay for Twitter Blue? Are they being left behind on purpose? It's all just a big mess, and it makes me wonder if we're more worried about the bottom line than we are about having a healthy online community 
.
I'm totally confused about what's going on with Twitter right now... like, Elon Musk is all about making changes to the platform, but some of them just don't make sense 
. I mean, I get it, he wants to make some cash from Twitter Blue, but come on! You can't just target one major account like that and expect everyone else to be okay with it 
.
. It's like, what's the plan here? Are we gonna have different standards for celebrities vs regular people now? I don't think so... or at least, that's what he should be saying 
.
. It's not exactly reassuring that experts think this new labeling system could make it easier for scammers to impersonate legit users 
. And honestly, what's with the doge logo? 
like, is Musk really gonna use Twitter as a way to boost his own cryptocurrency investments? 
It just feels like another weird move from someone who clearly doesn't care about transparency or consistency 
. I get that he wants to monetize the platform, but targeting a single high-profile account like the New York Times' main account for removal from blue check marks makes no sense 
. He needs to consider how these decisions will affect the users and the overall integrity of the platform 
. And let's be real, it's not about having a different standard for celebrities; it's about consistency and fairness across the board 
.
. But seriously, Twitter needs to get its act together and figure out what's going on here 
. Can't we just have a straightforward verification system without all these twists and turns? 
u say u wanna make twitter blue check marks more exclusive like a club and then u go ahead and give the main account of a major news outlet like the new york times a big fat label that makes it all confusing 
It's a classic case of a power play, where Musk is using his influence to shape the narrative and impose his own values. But let's not forget that this move could have unintended consequences, like making it easier for scammers to impersonate legitimate users. 
The fact that Twitter's verification system is now more confusing than ever raises serious questions about the platform's priorities. Are we supposed to believe that Musk's actions are guided by a clear policy or algorithm, or is it just a case of him winging it and hoping for the best? 
.
. If you're not gonna give a different standard for celebrities, then why are you taking away blue checks from legit accounts? It's all just creating more drama and whiplash among users 
. He's always been about shaking things up and stirring the pot. But sometimes you gotta think about how your actions affect others 
.
. What do you guys think? Should Twitter stick with the old system or go all-in on paid features like Musk is pushing 
. The blue check mark thing was always gonna be confusing, but I feel like he took it too far this time. Now we've got all these high-profile accounts lost without their fancy badges 
i'm not sure how much more of these changes i can take before i just start using a different platform altogether 
. And what's with all these weird changes to the platform? The doge logo? Really? 
and btw what's with the new doge logo