Twitter’s Free Blue Checkmarks End Today And Celebrities Don’t Want To Pay

April 1, 2023 / Posted by:

Remember when Elon Musk was forced to buy Twitter for billions even though he was joking about buying it in the first place but then pretended he wanted to own it all along so that he could create a platform that promoted free speech. Instead, he slowly broke it (while also slowly becoming broke) because he kept trying to make people like him? From messing with the algorithm to charging spammers users $8 for a coveted blue verification tick, Twitter is somehow still around despite Elon’s genius ideas. And even though his Twitter Blue subscription model isn’t going as well as he hoped, the Boss Baby is doubling down on the concept. Twitter recently announced that legacy verified users would lose their blue ticks unless they pay up by April 1st. Unfortunately for him, the plan is going about as well, using dank memes to win Grimes back.

The Twitter Blue subscription was supposedly a way to democratize the verification tag and teach the elites (read: bloggers and underpaid journalists) a lesson about the power of people. However, it’s been revealed over time that not enough people are signing up to offset the exodus of advertisers from the platform. The solution: charge EVERYBODY! via TechCrunch:

Starting on Saturday, Twitter will begin removing blue checks from “legacy verified” users if they don’t sign up for a Twitter Blue subscription. This is part of new owner Elon Musk’s grand plan to make Twitter profitable, but this particular scheme has a glaring issue: If anyone with $8 per month can get a blue check, the symbol won’t be cool anymore (and also disinformation will proliferate, but Musk doesn’t seem super worried about that).

Twitter initially launched its verification system in 2009 to protect celebrities from impersonation. Someone made an account pretending to be former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, but instead of just asking for the account to be taken down, La Russa sued Twitter. And so, the three-year-old company introduced its iconic blue check badge.

Many with a blue check are taking the threat seriously, and by seriously, I mean they’re pointing and laughing at Elon.

He lost LeBron, William Shatner, AND The White House? Damn. This could all be a lame joke seeing as it’s April Fool’s Day, and you can’t put it past Elon to try a stunt for the Reddit lulz. That’s definitely what he’ll say if he can’t get Jason Alexander or Ice Spice to pony up $8. Now you might think that he’s a bad businessman but ACTUALLY, this is a classic example of big-brain 4-D chess. Make a terrible business decision, double down after the backlash, and (negative) profit! You’ve lost money AND everyone’s respect. It’s the first lesson they teach you at Harvard Business School.

Pic: INSTARImages

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