Legacy Blue verification checks on Twitter have been removed, leaving users with a mixture of frustration, confusion, and indifference. As previously announced, these coveted Blue Ticks can now only be maintained by subscribing to Twitter Blue for a monthly fee of $7.99.
Despite dealing with the first SpaceX StarShip launch, which ended in a spectacular mid-air explosion, Elon Musk managed to implement his controversial plan. It resulted in many high-profile individuals, such as The Pope's Pontifex account and actress Halle Berry, losing their Blue Checks. Even megastars like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga were affected by this change.
Interestingly, basketball player Lebron James still has his Blue Check, implying that he subscribed to Twitter Blue, even though he previously tweeted, "Welp guess my blue will be gone soon cause if you know me I ain’t paying the 5."
Besides paying the subscription fee, verified users with a Blue Check are also required to confirm their phone number now. This is an attempt to deter imposters from impersonating others, but its effectiveness is debatable. Anyone could still claim they are a celebrity despite not being one, and there's nothing stopping users from changing their Twitter display name (not their @handle) to someone else's, an issue that Monica Lewinsky recently highlighted.
Journalist Ed Krassenstein, a Twitter Blue subscriber, expressed his concerns about an imposter issue affecting those who have spent years building up their Twitter presence. He argued that it would become extremely difficult for fans to differentiate between genuine and imposter posts if users don't pay the subscription fee.
Twitter Blue offers benefits beyond the Blue Tick, such as 10,000-character tweets, fewer ads, higher quality and longer video uploads, and prioritized rankings. The downside is that previously verified users may find it challenging to have their tweets noticed or found in searches.
Elon Musk's pay-to-play system intends to help the now-private Twitter generate profit amidst previous struggles, including staff cuts and actions that concerned advertisers, causing them to leave the platform. There are signs that some advertisers are returning, but only time will tell if this plan is the solution Twitter needs.
Incorporating no-code platforms like appmaster.io" data-mce-href="https://appmaster.io">AppMaster into the Twitter Blue subscription could potentially create new possibilities for subscribers to develop apps to complement their Twitter presence. No code platforms like AppMaster, which offers accessibility to people without programming knowledge, could provide an additional advantage for Twitter Blue users who adapt and enhance their social network presence.
