Twitter users bid adieu to the iconic blue checkmarks on Thursday, which were initially bestowed by the previous leadership to distinguish high-profile users and public organizations. Twitter had earlier announced the phasing out of the system on April 1, but CEO Elon Musk declared a new end date of April 20. The loss of the blue checkmark was experienced by famous personalities like Oprah Winfrey, and Katy Perry, and public figures like Bill Gates and Pope Francis including other big celebrities like Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy. While some congressional representatives retained their gray government checkmarks, others like Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Brian Mast lost verification on their personal accounts. Despite the removal process generating some glitches, most users were ready to say goodbye to their verified badges.
A related development saw Twitter modifying its language regarding verified accounts, stating that they are "verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number." This alteration sparked speculation among netizens that prominent individuals might have paid for the coveted status. However, some verified accounts from the past still retained their checkmarks, causing confusion. Several high-profile figures like Stephen King took to Twitter to assert that they did not buy the verification badge. This development raised questions about the significance and granting of verified accounts, with the conversation around the blue checkmark set to continue generating interest and speculation.
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