The White House and The New York Times have refused to pay for verified Blue subscriptions
Published Date – Mon, 03 Apr 23 at 07:40 AM
New Delhi: Twitter launched a verification system in 2009 to protect celebrities from impersonation, but now, Elon Musk wants everyone to pay for the blue badge, and that’s not going well for several celebrities on the platform.
Musk now wants everyone to pay $8 per month (INR 900 per month in India) to get a verified Blue checkmark, and all old Blue badges will disappear at any time.
The White House and The New York Times have already refused to pay for verified Blue subscriptions.
LeBron James, the highest-paid NBA player of all time with more than $40 million in annual earnings, refuses to be paid on Twitter. “I guess my blue checkmark will be gone soon because if you knew me I wouldn’t pay 5,” he posted on the platform.
Actor William Shatner tweeted to Musk: “Now you tell me I have to pay for something you give me for free? What is this – Columbia Record & Tape Club?”
NFL New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas posted: “No one wants to see that tattered blue checkered again.”
Activist lawyer Monica Lewinsky has posted a set of screenshots showing several Twitter accounts impersonating her.
“Well, this would be interesting. In what universe is this fair to those who might suffer the consequences of being impersonated? Lies travel halfway around the world before the truth even leaves the house,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, Twitter, which is run by Musk, removed the New York Times blue badge less than a week after Musk announced a new policy to retain verification badges.
