image credis: Pixabay/ ivke32
The severely criticized premium Twitter service is returning.
Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, made the announcement on Friday, weeks after paying verifications were halted. Previously, all users could pay $8 per month to get the coveted blue check, but Twitter halted this feature soon after it was introduced because an increasing number of accounts were misusing it to pose as famous people, athletes, and brands.
According to Musk, the upgraded service will recognize significant individuals and entities of public interest via a color-coded verification system.
“Gold check for companies, grey check for government, blue for individuals (celebrity or not) and all verified accounts will be manually authenticated before check activates,” Elon tweeted, adding the change was “painful, but necessary.”
Musk said the service was “tentatively launching” on Dec. 2.
The news comes a day after Musk said he would give some suspended accounts “general amnesty.” After running a poll, the results showed that most users were in favor of reinstating accounts that had not “broken the law or engaged in egregious spam.” More than 72% of those surveyed supported the proposal.
Sorry for the delay, we’re tentatively launching Verified on Friday next week.
Gold check for companies, grey check for government, blue for individuals (celebrity or not) and all verified accounts will be manually authenticated before check activates.
Painful, but necessary.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2022