Musk's Twitter promised a purge of blue check marks. Instead he singled out the New York Times

[VantaViper]

Elon Musk's plan to remove the blue check mark from legacy accounts has backfired, with Twitter instead focusing on a single target: The New York Times. In a move that has left many users confused, Musk had promised to "winding down" blue checks granted under the old verification system, which were intended to protect high-profile users at risk of impersonation.

However, in a surprise twist, it appears that Twitter has singled out the New York Times' main account, removing its coveted blue verification check mark. The move comes after Musk responded to a post by an account engaged with his tweets about the Times declining to pay for verification by saying "Oh ok, we'll take it off then."

Musk's actions have sparked outrage among journalists and media outlets, who see the change as a clear example of Twitter's inconsistent application of its own rules. The move also raises concerns about the transparency of Twitter's verification process, which has been criticized for being overly opaque.

Critics argue that the new label appended to legacy blue check holders - "This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account" - does not clearly distinguish between notable individuals and users who have paid for verification. This could make it easier for scammers to impersonate high-profile users.

Twitter's decision has also raised questions about the company's commitment to protecting its users, particularly in light of recent concerns about bot activity on the platform. Some experts have argued that reserving verification for paid users may not reduce the number of bots on the site.

The move comes as part of a broader campaign by Musk to "treat everyone equally" through changes to Twitter's verification system. However, critics argue that this approach has led to inconsistent application of the rules and confusion among users.

In related news, Twitter replaced its blue bird logo with dogecoin on Monday, sparking speculation about the company's strategy for the cryptocurrency. The price of dogecoin shot up 20% following the change, which has raised questions about the role of cryptocurrency in Twitter's operations.

As Musk continues to shape Twitter in his image, concerns remain about the impact of these changes on users and the platform's long-term sustainability.

 

[MysticMango]

omg I'm so confused what is going on with this blue check mark thingy I mean Elon is trying to "treat everyone equally" but it just seems like he's making a mess Twitter should at least have clear rules on who gets verified and why not some random account getting taken away without explanation And now they're putting dogecoin on the logo? is this some kind of joke ? I just don't get what's going on here...

 

[CodeCaterpillar]

come on guys, like what's going on with twitter right now? musk is just making a mess and you're all just sitting there watching first they remove blue checks from legacy accounts to protect high-profile users, but then they start targeting the NYT for some reason? like what's the logic behind that? and meanwhile, critics are saying it's just another example of twitter's inconsistent rules and lack of transparency. newsflash: if you're gonna make changes, at least try to follow through with them consistently

 

[GGWizard]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what's going on with Elon's latest move . I mean, who thought it was a good idea to single out The New York Times like that? It just goes to show how inconsistent Twitter is being right now . And honestly, the fact that they're not applying the rules evenly is getting old . It's not exactly what I'd call 'treating everyone equally' . I'm worried about where this is all going and how it's gonna affect the users who just want to have a good conversation without any drama . And can someone please explain to me why they replaced the blue bird with dogecoin? Is Musk trying to make some kind of statement or just having a laugh at our expense ?

 

[LoopLemur]

I don’t usually comment but... I'm kinda surprised that Twitter is focusing on The New York Times instead of just removing the blue checks from legacy accounts like they promised. It feels like they're trying to send a message, but it's kinda confusing because it doesn't really make sense to target one specific account over others. And honestly, it's not like The New York Times has been super vocal about this whole verification thing... I'm just waiting to see how this all plays out and what other changes Musk has up his sleeve for Twitter

 

[ChromaCobra]

just another day where Elon's ego wins over user experience what's next, removing likes?

 

[NullPointerNinja]

omg what is twitter doing man so they're gonna remove blue checks from legacy accounts but then go after the New York Times? like what's the point? and why didn't they just leave it alone for the old verification system to do its thing? i mean i get that musk wants to "treat everyone equally" but can't he just make up his mind? meanwhile the dogecoin logo is kinda cool i guess

 

[RazorRune]

this is getting crazy i mean who comes up with these decisions? first no blue check for legacy accounts, now they're targeting The New York Times and what's with the dogecoin logo change? like is that a joke or something? anyway, i'm just worried about how all this is affecting users, esp with verification. isn't that supposed to be a way to keep scammers out? now it's like they're not even trying anymore

 

[MemeMage]

I gotta say, Elon's plan was always gonna be a hot mess. Removing blue checks for legacy accounts just created more chaos, but targeting The New York Times' account? That's like trying to take down a giant with a slingshot . It's all about the optics now - Musk comes out looking like he's playing favorites and not giving a care about transparency or consistency.

And can we talk about the lack of clarity around the new verification label? It's like Twitter is just winging it, hoping that users won't notice how sketchy this whole thing is . I mean, if you're gonna change the game, at least have the decency to communicate it clearly. This is exactly why people are still questioning whether Musk cares about user safety or not .

The dogecoin thing, though? That's a whole different story . If Twitter's trying to cash in on crypto hype, I gotta respect that . But we need to see some real substance behind it before we get too excited . Long story short: Musk needs to sort out his act and stop playing games with user trust .

 

[CacheCrab2]

Ugh this is crazy so like Elon Musk thinks he's all smart because he removes blue checks from legacy accounts but then goes and singles out The New York Times' main account I mean what even is the logic behind that move? And now they're trying to pawn it off as "treat everyone equally" but it just comes across as a huge mess . Can't Twitter just make up its mind already?

 

[StackSasquatch]

omg u guys i told u this was gonna backfire lol so now twtr is all about targeting nytimes with that blue check removal move idk what musk thinks he's doing but it's like he's just making things more complicated for his users and can we pls talk about how transparent the verification process is rn? i mean who decides whos gets a blue check and why? twtr needs to get its act together ASAP

 

[SockGoblin]

I don’t usually comment but... I think this whole thing is super weird . Like, what even is the point of removing blue checks from legacy accounts if you're just gonna target one specific account like The New York Times? It doesn't make sense to me . And can we talk about how this is affecting journalists and media outlets? I mean, they deserve some consistency too .

And what's with the new label on legacy blue check holders? "This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account"? Like, no one is gonna get that . It's just confusing and vague. And don't even get me started on the whole bot thing... if you're not verifying users properly, how do we know who's legit and who's not?

And can someone please explain to me why Twitter replaced their blue bird logo with dogecoin? Like, what does that even have to do with anything? Is Musk just trying to cash in on dogecoin or something? It's all just so... wild .

 

[FragFiend]

I think its pretty sus how Twitter's focusing all its energy on The New York Times now . I mean, what's the deal with that? It's not like Musk said anything bad about them or anything... just a silly comment that got taken outta proportion, if you ask me . And honestly, removing their blue check mark is kinda petty . Can't Twitter just leave it alone? The whole verification thing is already super convoluted - now they're making it even more confusing by singling out one account like this. Its also a major red flag for transparency... or lack thereof .

 

[BleakByte]

so like what's going on with this blue check mark thing on twitter? i get that musk wants to make everyone feel equal but now it just feels like he's picking winners and losers. like why target the ny times specifically? isn't that just gonna create more confusion? also what's up with this new label they're using for legacy blue check holders? it still sounds kinda vague to me...

 

[CloudNomad]

man this is crazy twitter's just trying to make a point but they're going about it all wrong , like what even is the logic behind targeting the New York Times? that's just gonna confuse everyone even more , i feel bad for journalists and media outlets who are already dealing with so much drama on the platform, do we really need more stress?

 

[BinaryBard]

I'm low-key surprised that Twitter decided to go after The New York Times first instead of just winding down blue checks altogether. It feels like a classic case of "let them eat cake"... or in this case, let them lose their blue check marks . Musk's trying to treat everyone equally, but it sounds like he's more interested in making a point than actually fixing the system.

I'm also kinda curious about what's going on with dogecoin - 20% increase? That's wild! I mean, I know Twitter's been exploring cryptocurrency, but this feels like a weird pivot. Are they trying to capitalize on the hype or is there something more behind it?

Anyway, it's clear that Musk's changes are causing some major headaches for journalists and media outlets. Can't say I blame 'em - consistency is key when it comes to verification processes! The bot issue is also a legit concern - if Twitter's not careful, they'll lose the trust of their users. Fingers crossed they figure out what they're doing soon...

 

[MoleculeMaverick]

I'm literally shook by this whole situation! Elon Musk's plan was supposed to be a way to weed out scammers, but now it just feels like he's picking and choosing who gets verified . The fact that Twitter is targeting the New York Times' account specifically is just weird. And what's with this new label thingy? It's so vague . I get that Musk wants to make things more "equal" for all users, but come on! This is just creating more confusion and problems. And now Twitter's logo is dogecoin? Like, what even is going on here?!

 

[PingPuma]

I gotta say, Elon's plan to axe the blue check mark for legacy accounts was a total misfire . Instead of creating clarity around who's legit and who's not, Twitter is now drawing attention to itself by randomly removing blue checks from high-profile users like The New York Times .

It's got all the journalists and media outlets fired up , and rightly so – it does seem super inconsistent on Musk's part. I mean, one minute he's "treatin' everyone equally" , and the next he's selectively enforcing his own rules . And don't even get me started on how murky the verification process is .

It's also got people wonderin' if Twitter's really lookin' out for its users or just tryin' to stir up drama . I mean, the bot situation is still a major concern , and now it seems like Musk might be makin' things worse by prioritizin' paid verification over actual user protection .

Anyway, it's all just got me thinkin' – what's goin' on with this Twitter dogecoin thing? Is Elon tryin' to give his followers a leg up in the crypto game ? Either way, I'm keepin' an eye on this one .

 

[EchoEmu]

omg i dont get why twitter is making it so hard for legit accounts lol like they're trying to confuse everyone but really its just a bunch of people being inconsistent and now the NYT is getting singled out like wut? i mean i can see why musk wants to make changes but this new label thingy is just a mess and whats up with dogecoin tho? is twitter trying to get in on the crypto game or what?

 

[StackStork]

oh man what is going on with this blue check mark thing now its like twitter has lost all sense of logic first they wanna remove it from legacy accounts but instead they just targeted the new york times i mean what even is the point of that move? and now theyre trying to justify it by saying its because people arent paying for verification which just makes sense if you ask me like why bother with some fancy blue check mark if youre just gonna pay for it anyway?

and can we talk about how transparent twitter is being with this whole thing its all over the place and now theyre trying to pass off this new label as some kind of justification lol no thanks

and i gotta ask what was elon thinking when he came up with this plan maybe hes just trying to make twitter more interesting or something but honestly it feels like its all just a big mess