Aston Lukoye
Twitter has recently come under fire for its decision to remove blue verification checkmarks from several accounts that had not paid for the microblogging platform’s subscription service, Twitter Blue.
However, in a surprise move, Twitter has restored the blue ticks to some of these accounts just days after removing them.
Larry Madowo Twitter Blue
One of the verified users who had their blue tick restored is Larry Madowo, a CNN journalist and former BBC News Africa Business Editor. In a tweet, Madowo said, “I woke up to a blue checkmark again. I haven’t paid for Twitter Blue.”
Madowo’s experience has left many Twitter users wondering what is going on.
Some have speculated that Twitter may have restored the blue ticks to “legacy verified” accounts with over 1 million followers, as Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, had previously tweeted that verified accounts with over 1 million followers would not be affected by the verification removal.
However, Twitter has not yet provided an official statement on why it has restored the blue ticks to some accounts.
Some Twitter users have suggested that the restoration of the blue ticks may be a result of Twitter receiving backlash from users who were unhappy with the removal of their verification checkmarks.
The controversy over the blue verification checkmarks began when Twitter announced that it would be removing the checkmarks from accounts that did not pay for its subscription service, Twitter Blue. This decision was met with criticism from users who argued that the blue tick was not something that should be monetized.
The blue verification checkmark is intended to verify the authenticity of an account, indicating that the account belongs to a legitimate public figure or organization. The removal of these checkmarks from accounts that did not pay for Twitter Blue raised questions about the reliability of Twitter’s verification system and its commitment to providing a level playing field for all users.
Official statement by Twitter
While Twitter’s decision to restore blue ticks to some accounts has been welcomed by some users, others remain skeptical of the platform’s motives. Many are still waiting for an official statement from Twitter to clarify the situation and provide more information on the restoration of blue verification checkmarks.
