Twitter users with legacy verified check marks, like celebrities, journalists, and media organisations, will lose their blue ticks tomorrow, according to Elon Musk.
Twitter’s CEO has introduced a new policy requiring users to sign up for the Twitter Blue subscription service if they want a blue check.
Traditionally, people with notable accounts could get a verification check to prove their account was notable and real, and to distinguish them from fake accounts or parody accounts.
Now, anyone unwilling to pay for a Twitter subscription will lose their tick.
Several celebrities and media organisations have said they’re giving up their blue tick because they refuse to pay for Twitter.
Rapper Ice T said: “I heard Twitter is gonna take away the Blue checkmarks if you don’t pay... F*** that checkmark... I guess it matters to some people..”
Stephen King said: “$20 a month to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.”
Actor William Shatner said: “Hey Elon Musk what’s this about blue checks going away unless we pay Twitter? I’ve been here for 15 years giving my [time] and witty thoughts all for bupkis.
“Now you’re telling me that I have to pay for something you gave me for free? What is this-the Colombia Records and Tape Club?”
Jason Alexander said: “Friends, there are bigger issues in the [world] than the blue verified [check] next to my name on this account. But without it, anyone can allege to be me.
“So, if I lose that [check] know I will leave this platform. Anyone appearing with it=an imposter. I tell you this while I’m still official.”
YouTuber Jacksepticeye said: “Me to my blue check mark when it goes away soon cos I won’t be paying for Twitter”.
A number of media organisations have also said they will not pay for their reporters to have verified check marks, like The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, POLITICO, Vox Media, and The Washington Post.
