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The legacy checkmarks began disappearing today. Yui Mok/PA
bye bye baby blue
Twitter's famous blue ticks start vanishing across the platform
The blue checkmark was originally given to companies, celebrities, government entities and journalists verified by the platform.
9.16pm, 20 Apr 2023
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TWITTER’S FAMOUS BLUE checkmark, which has traditionally signified verified and authentic accounts, appear to have been removed en masse across the site.
Owner Elon Musk, who has seen his $44 billion investment in the site shrink, previously pledged to get rid of what he described as a “lords & peasants system” by removing the marks.
Users including the Pope, Donald Trump and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer carry the blue tick.
My blue tick is gone. I won't be taking questions and I ask that you respect the privacy of my family and I as we navigate this difficult time.
The blue checkmark was originally given to companies, celebrities, government entities and journalists verified by the platform.
Some blue ticks remain, such as on Hollywood actor Russell Crowe’s account. The checkmark carries a message in some cases that the account “is verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number” with the platform.
It comes following an unsuccessful launch earlier today of the Musk-owned SpaceX’s largest rocket to date went awry, when it exploded nearly four minutes after its a first blast-off in Texas.
The rocket, Starship, did not separate correctly from it’s second stage, which holds the rocket’s boosters, and experienced what was described as “a rapid unscheduled disassembly”.
Some Twitter users, such as Irish comedian Michael Fry below, hopped on the laboured description for the explosion when noting the sudden disappearance of their accounts’ blue ticks.
My blue tick has experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage separation
SpaceX founder Musk has sought to play down expectations for the risk-laden inaugural test flight, cast some doubt on whether the launch will actually go ahead today.
“The team is working around the clock on many issues,” Musk tweeted late Tuesday. “Maybe 4/20, maybe not.”
Containing reporting by AFP
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@west awake: Unless your free speech is at his expense of course…. then not so much and the ban hammer comes out. Weird. I also fail to see how removing the verified marks somehow aids in free speech.
There was no “lords & Peasants system” that’s just something he’s plucked out of thin air. People liked knowing that they were following genuine accounts. Not that it really matters, Twitter seems to be dying a death once he took it over and began tinkering with the new toy. The only reason I still have an account is for logging in here!!
Good. Free speech should always prevail. People angriest about this are those losing the ticks who no longer have a status symbol over everyone else. They are free to pay for one if they want. These celebrities have plenty of money!!
Now that Elon Musk has bought Twitter and laid off half the staff, he’s planning on buying YouTube and Facebook and doing the same with them. To save even more money, he plans on merging the three companies into one…
…He’s going to call it YouTwitFace!!
Nooooooo now these poor celebrities will their millions in the bank will have to pay a tenner a month or whatever to have their little tick :-( Now governments and shady NGOS will have to spend millions or scrap verification for their bot and shill accounts that they use to push narratives. This is terrible :-(
Why do you need blue ticks anyway? Weirdos “following” celebrities instead of living their own lives.
Good boot up the hole is what the sheep folk need
When is he going to allow free speech that he’s been virtue signalling for so long? You can’t even defame someone without multiple options to report you and have your tweet taken down
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