Twitter has decided to remove the blue verified badges from profiles that do not subscribe to Twitter Blue. The move has been taken to improve the transparency of Twitter’s verification process. In the past, Twitter verified accounts of public interest, such as politicians, journalists, and celebrities, based on certain criteria. However, the process was often opaque, and blue badges were distributed arbitrarily. With Twitter Blue, only paid users will be verified, and the process will be more transparent.

Guidelines for Twitter verification

Twitter has established guidelines for verifying profiles. Accounts must be active for at least 30 days and must not be misleading or deceptive in any way. Twitter only grants blue ticks to users whose mobile numbers have been verified. However, there are still many accounts on the platform that are managed by individuals but exhibit spam-like behavior.

Elon Musk’s Influence on Twitter’s Decision

Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, has been vocal about his opinion that the blue tick is superficial and that anyone on the platform should be verified for a minimal fee. He has also criticized the previous management of Twitter for treating the company like a charity. Musk’s influence can be seen in Twitter’s decision to eliminate the legacy blue badges. Musk also made a reference to the 4/20 prank while announcing Twitter’s decision to remove the badges.

How to keep your Twitter Blue badge

Those who have the legacy badge will have to subscribe to Twitter Blue, or they will lose their blue tick. Blue subscriptions cost different amounts depending on the market. In India, for example, the subscription costs Rs 900 per month on iPhones and Android smartphones and Rs 650 on the Twitter website. Users can also opt for a relatively less expensive annual subscription.

Conclusion

Twitter’s decision to remove the legacy blue badges is a step towards improving transparency in its verification process. The move has been driven by Elon Musk’s influence on the company, and Twitter will hope to make some money by selling subscriptions that include long-form tweets and an edit/undo button. Users who have the legacy badge will have to subscribe to Twitter Blue to retain their blue tick.