It may be an extreme move, but it shows that Musk seriously ensures people use Twitter responsibly and ethically. Removing the blue checkmark from well-known users would ensure that everyone is treated equally on the platform, with no privileged status given to certain celebrities or influencers over others. This would benefit more than just Twitter’s bottom line; it could help create a level playing field for all users regardless of their social media fame or notoriety. It could also lead to better-informed discussions as there will no longer be any incentive for high-profile figures to spread misinformation or use their influence in questionable ways to gain followers. Overall, this proposed change could result in improved civility and accountability among all users on Twitter, which can only have positive implications for online discourse.
Twitter’s decision to add a disclaimer to the blue check marks has confused users. Some wonder if their accounts could be removed without warning, while others are concerned that they may become targets of abuse or harassment because of the new disclosure rules. Others still worry that Twitter is simply trying to silence certain voices by singling out those with verified badges. Whatever the case, it’s clear that the social media platform is making an effort to increase transparency and provide more information about who’s behind each account — something many users have recently called for.
“It’s not like people view it as a symbol of credibility or that you can trust the person more because they have it. It doesn’t mean anything now except that Twitter has verified that the account belongs to whoever it says they are. Darling said he sees blue checks more as an easy way for him and others to find credible sources on Twitter without manually going through all the accounts. “I think a lot of people value curation from someone else, so if a news outlet or organization takes the time to verify those accounts, then I think it gives us some assurance about what information we can get from them,” Darling added.
The questions now remain: Is this a smart move for Darling? Does it make any difference to the public or create confusion? What does this mean for blue-check owners who want to escape the limelight of being associated with Mr. Musk? Having a blue tick on your profile gives you credibility, but some people may think twice before subscribing and availing themselves of those features. It could be argued that while removing the blue tick doesn’t have much effect, it can still convey that one isn’t trying to get attention by affiliating themselves with someone as controversial as Elon Musk. People who don’t want their account to be associated with him might consider taking down their blue tick if they are not using its benefits.
However, Twitter has ensured that users cannot remove the verified badge without submitting an application explaining why they wish to do so. This ensures accountability and transparency when individuals decide to take back control over how they are perceived online through social media platforms such as Twitter.