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Twitter verification

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Twitter verification is a system intended to communicate the authenticity of a Twitter account. When introduced in June 2009, the system provided the site's readers with a means to distinguish genuine notable account holders, such as celebrities and organizations, from impostors or parodies.[1][2] Until November 2022, a blue checkmark[3] (UK: blue tick) displayed against an account name indicated that Twitter had taken steps to ensure that the account was actually owned by the person or organization whom it claimed to represent.[4][5] The checkmark does not imply endorsement from Twitter, and does not mean that tweets from a verified account are necessarily accurate or truthful in any way.[6] People with verified accounts on Twitter are often colloquially referred to as "blue checks" on social media and by reporters.[7]

Blue eight-lobed badge with checkmark icon.
"Blue checkmark" Twitter verification badge, used by Twitter Blue subscribers and "legacy verified" accounts.
Gold-colored eight-lobed badge with checkmark icon.
Gold badge used for businesses.
Gray eight-lobed badge with checkmark icon.
Gray badge used for government accounts.

Since November 2022, Twitter users with an active Twitter Blue subscription may also display the blue "verified" checkmark.[8] Twitter users who had been verified through the previous system are known as "legacy verified" accounts.[9] In December 2022, Twitter introduced additional gold and gray checkmarks, used by businesses and government-affiliated accounts, respectively.[10]

HistoryEdit

2009–2022Edit

In June 2009, after being criticized by Kanye West and sued by Tony La Russa over unauthorized accounts run by impersonators, the company launched their "Verified Accounts" program.[11][12] Twitter stated that an account with a "blue tick" verification badge indicates "we've been in contact with the person or entity the account is representing and verified that it is approved".[13] After the beta period, the company stated in their FAQ that it "proactively verifies accounts on an ongoing basis to make it easier for users to find who they're looking for" and that they "do not accept requests for verification from the general public".[14] Originally, Twitter took on the responsibility of reaching out to celebrities and other notable to confirm their identities in order to establish a verified account.[15]

In July 2016, Twitter announced a public application process to grant verified status to an account "if it is determined to be of public interest" and that verification "does not imply an endorsement".[16][17][18] In 2016 the company began accepting requests for verification, but it was discontinued the same year. Twitter explained that the volume of requests for verified accounts had exceeded its ability to cope; rather, Twitter determines on its own whom to approach about verified accounts, limiting verification to accounts which are "authentic, notable, and active".[19][20]

In November 2020, Twitter announced a relaunch of its verification system in 2021. According to the new policy, Twitter verifies six different types of accounts; for three of them (companies, brands, and influential individuals like activists), the existence of a Wikipedia page will be one criterion for showing that the account has "Off Twitter Notability".[21]

ControversyEdit

Twitter's practice and process for verifying accounts came under scrutiny in 2017 after the company verified the account of white supremacist and far-right political activist, Jason Kessler. Many who criticized Twitter's decision to verify Kessler's account saw this as a political act on the company's behalf.[22] In response, Twitter put its verification process on hold. The company tweeted, "Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance. We recognize that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. We have paused all general verifications while we work and will report back soon."[23]

As of November 2017, Twitter continued to deny verification of Julian Assange's account following his requests.[24]

In November 2019, Dalit activists of India alleged that higher-caste people get Twitter verification easily and trended hashtags #CancelAllBlueTicksInIndia and #CasteistTwitter.[25][26][27] Critics have said that the company's verification process is not transparent and causes digital marginalisation of already marginalised communities.[28] Twitter India rejected the allegations, calling them "impartial" and working on a "case-by-case" policy.[29][30]

After three years without offering the account verification service, on May 20, 2021, Twitter relaunched its service that attests to user legitimacy.[31] This time offering notability criteria for the account categories of government, companies, brands, and organizations, news organizations and journalists, entertainment, sports and activists, organizers, and other influential individuals.[32] Among all these categories listed, it is still missing a specific category that fits scientists[33] and religious figures.[34]

Since November 2022Edit

See also: Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk

Following the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk on October 28, 2022, Musk told Twitter employees to introduce paid verification by November 7 through Twitter Blue. The Verge reported that the updated Blue subscription would cost $19.99 per month, and users would lose their verification status if they did not join within 90 days.[35][36][37] Following backlash, Musk tweeted, in response to author Stephen King,[38] a lowered $8 price on November 1, 2022.[39][40] Twitter confirmed the new price of $7.99 per month on November 5, 2022.[41][42] The new verification system began rollout on November 9, 2022, a day after the 2022 United States elections.[43] The decision to delay its rollout was to address concerns about users potentially spreading misinformation about voting results by posing as news outlets and lawmakers.[44]

At the same time, Twitter introduced a secondary gray "Official" label on some high-profile accounts, but removed them hours after launch.[45][46][47] Less than 48 hours later, Twitter reinstated the gray "Official" label,[48][49] after multiple users were suspended for deliberately impersonating reporters and high-profile athletes like LeBron James.[50][51] A viral tweet from an account purporting to be the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company caused the company's stock to fall after announcing "insulin is free now."[52][53][54] As a result, Twitter disabled new Blue subscriptions on November 11, 2022.[55][56]

On December 12, 2022, Twitter Blue was relaunched again with some changes, including an increased price of $11 for users who sign up through iOS devices to compensate for the 30% cut imposed by Apple.[57] Twitter stated that only Twitter accounts older than 90 days and with a confirmed phone number are able to subscribe and Blue checkmarks are issued once Twitter reviews the account, and any changes to the profile "will result in the loss of the blue checkmark" until Twitter can review the account again.[58] The "Official" labels were replaced with "gold" checkmarks for official businesses, which was reported to have a monthly fee of $1,000,[59] and later, grey checkmarks for government accounts on Twitter.[60] Accounts that had been verified through the previous system were renamed to "legacy verified", with Musk calling the previous system "corrupt and nonsensical" in a tweet, and stating the blue checkmarks on those accounts would be removed "in a few months".[9][61] Musk claimed that the impersonation issue was resolved by manually reviewing all applications,[62] but The Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler was able to create an impersonation account of senator Ed Markey,[a] which was promptly verified after subscribing to Twitter Blue and only suspended the account after Fowler's story was published.[64]

Significance and social impactEdit

A verified account is a highly sought-after qualification among Twitter users. Since Twitter alone can grant blue check marks, they can use them as a passive inducement for users to create more content. Alison Hearn argued in 2017 that they introduce a new social class of Twitter users.[65] This can cause tension between verified and non-verified users of the site; when Twitter temporarily locked out verified accounts in the aftermath of the 2020 Twitter account hijacking, many non-verified users celebrated.[66][67] After the blue checkmark was made available as a paid subscription in 2022, reporters noted trolls spreading demonstrably false conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines using the checkmark to feign credibility.[68]

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Staff, PCMag (12 June 2009). "Phew! Twitter Verifies Celebrity Tweets as Authentic". PCMag. AppScout. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. ^ Cashmore, Pete (11 June 2009). "Twitter Launches Verified Accounts". Mashable. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2021. It'll also solve the entrenched problem of celebrity impersonations, which are confusing for users and unwelcome by those being impersonated.
  3. ^ "How to get verified on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  4. ^ Manfredi, Lucas (2020-07-15). "Twitter's Blue Checkmark explained". Fox Business. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  5. ^ Kanalley, Craig (2013-03-12). "Why Twitter Verifies Users". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  6. ^ Welch, Chris (2018-07-17). "Twitter says it doesn't 'have the bandwidth' to fix verification right now". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  7. ^ Bishop, Rollin (March 30, 2017). "'Verified' is now a derogatory term on Twitter". The Outline. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  8. ^ Binder, Matt (9 November 2022). "If you buy a blue checkmark, Twitter will tell on you". Mashable. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  9. ^ a b Bellan, Rebecca (12 December 2022). "Elon says Twitter will remove all legacy verifications 'in a few months'". TechCrunch. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Twitter Blue is back. And gold checkmarks are here!". blog.twitter.com. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  11. ^ Stone, Biz (June 6, 2009). "Not Playing Ball". Twitter.
  12. ^ Kanalley, Craig (March 12, 2013). "Why Twitter Verifies Users: The History Behind the Blue Checkmark". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  13. ^ Cashmore, Pete (June 11, 2009). "Twitter Launches Verified Accounts". Mashable. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "FAQs about verified accounts". Archived from the original on July 19, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ Warfield, Katie. Mediated Interfaces: The Body on Social Media. Bloomsbury. p. 55.
  16. ^ "About verified accounts". Archived from the original on July 20, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. ^ "Announcing an Application Process for Verified Accounts". Twitter. July 19, 2016.
  18. ^ Burgess, Matt (July 20, 2016). "Twitter opens verification to all". Wired. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  19. ^ Delo, Cotton (2012-01-10). "One Way to Get a Twitter 'Verified Account': Buy Ads". Ad Age. Archived from the original on 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  20. ^ "About verified accounts". help.twitter.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  21. ^ Harrison, Stephen (December 4, 2020). "Twitter Wants to Use Wikipedia to Help Determine Who Gets a Blue Checkmark". Slate Magazine. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  22. ^ Bowles, Nellie (2017-11-09). "Twitter, Facing Another Uproar, Pauses Its Verification Process". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  23. ^ Twitter Support [@twittersupport] (November 9, 2017). "Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance. We recognize that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. We have paused all general verifications while we work and will report back soon" (Tweet). Retrieved 2021-04-16 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Tiku, Nitasha (November 10, 2017). "Twitter's Authentication Policy Is a Verified Mess". Wired.
  25. ^ "#CancelAllBlueTicksInIndia trends on Twitter, netizens slam caste-based discrimination". The Economic Times. November 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  26. ^ "#cancelallBlueTicksinIndia Trends As Twitter Faces Caste Storm". The Quint. November 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  27. ^ "Why Dalit activists are furious with 'casteist' Twitter". Free Press Journal. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  28. ^ "'The Blue Janeu': As Critics Cry 'Casteism', Twitter Ducks for Cover". The Wire. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  29. ^ "Twitter reacts to accusations of caste bias, says it's 'impartial'". Free Press Journal. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  30. ^ "Twitter Cites 'Case-By-Case' Verification Policy as Casteism Allegations Ravage Platform". News18. November 7, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  31. ^ "Relaunching verification and what's next". blog.twitter.com. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  32. ^ "Twitter Verification requirements - how to get the blue check". help.twitter.com. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  33. ^ Pereira, Cássio Cardoso (2022-05-03). "Twitter: a blue badge for scientists?". Nature. 605 (7908): 30. doi:10.1038/d41586-022-01188-y. PMID 35505189. S2CID 248515010.
  34. ^ "Twitter Verification requirements - how to get the blue check". help.twitter.com. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  35. ^ Heath, Alex (October 30, 2022). "Twitter is planning to start charging $20 per month for verification". The Verge. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  36. ^ Spangler, Todd (31 October 2022). "Elon Musk Reportedly Wants Twitter Verified Users to Pay $20 per Month — or Lose Their Blue Check Marks". Variety. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  37. ^ Humphries, Matthew. "Twitter Expected to Start Charging $20 Per Month for a Blue Checkmark". PCMAG. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  38. ^ Elon Musk [@elonmusk] (November 1, 2022). "@StephenKing We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Spangler, Todd (1 November 2022). "Elon Musk Suggests Charging $8 per Month for Twitter Verification After Backlash to Reported $20 Fee". Variety. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  40. ^ Assaly, Richie (2 November 2022). "Elon Musk's plans to charge $8 a month for verification on Twitter receives heavy backlash". thestar.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  41. ^ Wiggers, Kyle (5 November 2022). "Twitter begins rolling out $7.99 Twitter Blue plan with verification, fewer ads". TechCrunch. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  42. ^ Roth, Emma (5 November 2022). "Elon Musk's $7.99 Twitter Blue with verification is 'coming soon' on iOS". The Verge. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  43. ^ O'Sullivan, Donie; Korn, Jennifer (6 November 2022). "Elon Musk delays $8 'blue check' Twitter verification plan until after the midterms | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  44. ^ Mac, Ryan; Conger, Kate; Isaac, Mike (6 November 2022). "Twitter Is Said to Delay Changes to Check Mark Badges Until After Midterms". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  45. ^ Wile, Rob. "Twitter launches $7.99 subscription, which lets users pay for a checkmark". NBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  46. ^ Sato, Mia (9 November 2022). "Twitter's new double-check verification disappears, Elon Musk says he 'killed it'". The Verge. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  47. ^ Elon Musk [@elonmusk] (November 9, 2022). "@MKBHD I just killed it" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  48. ^ "Twitter Blue signups unavailable after problems with fake accounts". abc10.com. November 11, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  49. ^ "Twitter brings back "official" label after verified impersonator accounts run wild". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  50. ^ Tolentino, Daysia; Rosenblatt, Kalhan. "Lebron James and other athletes impersonated by verified Twitter accounts". NBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  51. ^ Marcin, Tim (9 November 2022). "People started spreading fake news on Twitter the instant they could buy a blue check". Mashable. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  52. ^ DiBenedetto, Chase (12 November 2022). "Insulin producer Eli Lilly sees stock drop because of a fake blue check tweet". Mashable. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  53. ^ Lee, Bruce Y. "Fake Eli Lilly Twitter Account Claims Insulin Is Free, Stock Falls 4.37%". Forbes. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  54. ^ Harwell, Drew. "A fake tweet sparked panic at Eli Lilly and may have cost Twitter millions". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  55. ^ Zahn, Max (11 November 2022). "Twitter's $8 verification option appears to be unavailable for some users". ABC News. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  56. ^ Ray, Siladitya (11 November 2022). "Twitter Blue: Signups For Paid Verification Appear Suspended After Impersonator Chaos". Forbes. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  57. ^ "Twitter's paid blue tick re-launches after pause". BBC News. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  58. ^ Clark, Mitchell (12 December 2022). "Twitter Blue is back, letting you buy a blue checkmark again". The Verge. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  59. ^ "Elon Musk Now Charging Brands $1,000/Month for Gold Checkmarks". TMZ. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  60. ^ Wiggers, Kyle (12 December 2022). "Twitter launches Blue for Business, grants gold checkmarks to 'corporate entities'". TechCrunch. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  61. ^ Elon Musk [@elonmusk] (December 12, 2022). "@micsolana In a few months, we will remove all legacy blue checks. The way in which they were given out was corrupt and nonsensical" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  62. ^ Lerman, Rachel (November 25, 2022). "Musk plans Twitter check mark feature again, this time with more colors". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  63. ^ Fowler, Geoffrey (January 5, 2023). "Twitter said it fixed 'verification.' So I impersonated a senator (again)". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  64. ^ Fowler, Geoffrey A. (January 5, 2023). "Perspective | Twitter said it fixed 'verification.' So I impersonated a senator (again)". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  65. ^ Hearn, Alison (2017-04-03). "Verified: Self-presentation, identity management, and selfhood in the age of big data". Popular Communication. 15 (2): 62–77. doi:10.1080/15405702.2016.1269909. ISSN 1540-5702. S2CID 151473273.
  66. ^ Watercutter, Angela (July 16, 2020). "Twitter Is at Its Best When Verified Accounts Can't Tweet". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  67. ^ Joseph, Andrew (15 July 2020). "Hack: Twitter locks Blue Checks; unverified accounts react with jokes". USA Today. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  68. ^ Schraer, Rachel (23 November 2022). "They died suddenly - then the anti-vax trolling started". BBC News.

NotesEdit

  1. ^ This was done with the senator's consent.[63]

External linksEdit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Twitter_verification&oldid=1145815491"