On Thursday (April 20), Twitter removed the ‘legacy verified’ blue checkmarks, sparking a massive meltdown of left-liberals on the micro-blogging platform.
It must be mentioned that Twitter would earlier recognise ‘notable’ personalities such as celebrities, influencers, public figures, and journalists on its platform by providing them with an exclusive ‘blue tick,’ known as ‘legacy verified’ accounts.
After Twitter launched Twitter Blue, a subscription service which offers several added benefits, including the blue tick, the social media platform had announced that the legacy verified tags would be removed if the users don’t subscribe to Twitter Blue.
The removal of blue checkmarks rattled the left-liberal community, who took to the platform to curse Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk. Climate change ‘activist’ Licipriya Kangujam, whose father was arrested for fraud, wrote, “My blue tick has gone but my spirit doesn’t. I felt it was an honor for my work since 6 years old for our planet.”
My blue tick has gone but my spirit doesn't. I felt it was an honor for my work since 6 years old for our planet.
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) April 20, 2023
Twitter was a powerful tool for me to bring a change. Hypocrisy of @elonmusk capitalize our voices today. Twitter is now a symbol of failure 4 our freedom of Speech!
“Twitter was a powerful tool for me to bring a change. Hypocrisy of Elon Musk capitalise our voices today. Twitter is now a symbol of failure for our freedom of speech!” she brazened it out.
An economist turned fake news peddler, Kaushik Basu, also took to Twitter to vent out his anger. He wrote, “It’s embarrassing to have a blue tick now because it’s a signal you paid for it.”
It’s embarrassing to have a blue tick now because it’s a signal you paid for it.
— Kaushik Basu (@kaushikcbasu) April 21, 2023
One Munza Mushtaq lamented, “I am no longer a “verified” journalist on Twitter thanks to Elon Musk. In 2021, I received the verification on purely merit, and that is how it should be. Now, even underworld leader Kanjipani Imran can have a verified Twitter account as long as he pays for it. #TwitterBlueTick”
I am no longer a "verified" journalist on Twitter thanks to @elonmusk.
— Munza Mushtaq (@munza14) April 21, 2023
In 2021, I received the verification on purely merit, and that is how it should be.
Now, even underworld leader Kanjipani Imran can have a verified Twitter account as long as he pays for it.#TwitterBlueTick pic.twitter.com/GMpYyK0xRo
Co-founder of Sinjar Academy, Murad Ismael, claimed, “Most of journalists around the world need their Twitter account verified and in many countries having a credit card is not a given thing. This subscription-based verification is really weird and damaging to Twitter & discounts people contribution to this platform.”
Most of journalists around the world need their Twitter account verified and in many countries having a credit card is not a given thing. This subscription-based verification is really weird and damaging to Twitter & discounts people contribution to this platform. I need a…
— Murad Ismael (@murad_ismael) April 21, 2023
Congress loyalist Sanjukta Basu tweeted, “Ha ha, looks like the right-wing losers are worried that the elite club they were so desperate to enter have been emptied of the elites. Desperately hoping that we come back. Not happening. The blue tick will lose meaning. With our exit, we take the club with us.”
Ha ha, looks like the right wing losers are worried that the elite club they were so desperate to enter have been emptied of the elites. Desperately hoping that we come back. Not happening. The blue tick will lose meaning. With our exit we take the club with us. https://t.co/Kdpb26xj8Y
— Sanjukta Basu (@sanjukta) April 21, 2023
Digital producer of ‘Daily Press’ Waldy Diez wrote, “I feel like Twitter is now this lawless place without the checkmark verification for journalists and other public figures who don’t want to pay the fee.”
I feel like Twitter is now this lawless place without the checkmark verification for journalists and other public figures who don't want to pay the fee. But on the plus side, I can now change my username to match the rest of my journo socials without fear of losing the check.
— Waldy Diez (she/her) (@_waldy) April 21, 2023
“And, despite my affiliation with, and employment by Weather Channel, after all these years my #BlueCheckMark verification is gone. Elon Musk, that mark is critical in offering journalists credibility as actually being who we say we are on Twitter. Please offer a solution,” wrote Justin Michaels.
And, despite my affiliation with, and employment by @weatherchannel, after all these years my #BlueCheckMark verification is gone. @elonmusk, that mark is critical in offering journalists credibility as actually being who we say we are on @Twitter. Please offer a solution. pic.twitter.com/da5WexthLa
— Justin Michaels (@JMichaelsNews) April 20, 2023
Following Twitter’s takeover by Elon Musk, the micro-blogging platform announced to ‘democratise’ the process and award blue checkmark to anyone willing to cough up $8 every month.
On Thursday (April 20), Twitter removed the verified blue tick from many high-profile individuals’ accounts in India including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal among others.
The other political figures who have lost the blue tick are Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Besides them, political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Congress also lost their verification badges.
