A recent update to Twitter sparked outrage with legacy verified users, because it effectively ended their internet celebrity status on the platform.
The new update changed verified badges so that it’s now impossible to tell who is verified from subscribing to Twitter Blue, and who is verified from the nebulous and obfuscated old Twitter guard.
Furthermore, Twitter is set to eventually remove verified badges from most users who don’t subscribe – more on that later.
Naturally some outspoken forever-online users like The Daily Show with Trevor Noah writer Kashana Cauley and former NBA player Rex Chapman made it clear they’re not subscribed, nor will they ever:
“I just want you all to know that I have never paid Apartheid Elmo $11 for a check, and never will,” Cauley said. Chapman also firmly said “I am NOT subscribed to Twitter Blue.”
Some organizations have already stated they refuse to pay Musk and Twitter for their checkmarks – like the standoff with the propaganda outlet The New York Times.
This prompted Twitter to remove their gold company verified badge pre-emptively.
“Oh ok, well take it off then,” Musk said. He later commented further on the NYT adding “NY Times is being incredible hypocritical here, as they are super aggressive about forcing everyone to pay *their* subscription.”
The aforementioned $1,000 fee for business or organizations will be waived if they’re part of Twitters top 500 advertising clients, as well as the top 10,000 most-followed brands.
Super Mario Bros. Movie actor Jack Black (who plays Bowser) talked up Twitter drama at the movie’s premiere.
“I don’t know if I’m going to pay for it. I’m a little embarassed by the blue check,” Black said. “Maybe it’s cooler not to have checks. It’s definitely not cool to pay for it.”
Black’s co-star, Chris Pratt (who plays Mario), said he’s not sure if he’ll pay to keep his Twitter badge.
“I care deeply about all of [my followers],” Pratt said (via Variety). “I’ll do whatever I have to do to stay a part of their lives because I respect their attention and I love to use it as an opportunity to talk to them when I’m doing movies and stuff.”
This is Niche Gamer Tech. In this column, we regularly cover tech and things related to the tech industry.
