Twitter Pulls Check Mark From NY Times
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Tensions between Twitter and The New York Times escalated to where Elon Musk removed their verified blue check mark.
To be one of Twitter’s high profile users, many accounts are bracing for the loss of the blue check marks. As a matter of fact, Twitter understood the significance of the check mark when created in 2009. Prominent figures and organizations needed a way to distinguish trusted information shared by them compared to others. The signature feature changed the way users can spot fraudulent activity on the platform. After buying Twitter for $44 billion in October, Musk has been trying to boost the struggling platform’s revenue. Also, his move reflects his assertion that the blue verification marks have become an undeserved status symbol for elite people.
Separated By The Check Mark
Now, Musk wants to ‘bolster free speech’ through a subscription service where users pay $8 per month to get or stay verified. In addition, Musk describes the move to divide, “Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark.”
A Times spokesperson stated how the company plans to not pay the monthly subscription last Thursday. Early Sunday, Musk tweeted that the Times’ check mark would be removed. Later he posted disparaging remarks about the newspaper aggressively reporting the flaws of driving Tesla, his electric car company.
Although, the company does plan to reimburse reporters for their accounts in instances where the status would be essential for reporting purposes, other Times accounts such as its business news and opinion pages still had either blue or gold check marks on Sunday, as did multiple reporters for the news organization.
The cost of Twitter Blue subscriptions have picked up famous commentary from celebrities like LeBron James and William Shatner. Actor Jason Alexander from the hit series, Seinfeld, pledged to leave the platform if Musk takes his blue check away.
Featured Image by OVI