Over the weekend, Twitter re-verified many users with large followings, just days after removing the blue verification checkmarks from accounts that do not pay for Twitter Blue. The move caused confusion among some high-profile users, including journalists, celebrities, and a major university, who insisted they did not sign up for Twitter owner Elon Musk's $8-per-month subscription service. The blue checkmark indicates that an account has been verified as authentic and belongs to a notable figure or organization.
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, comedian and actor Ben Schwartz, and actor Elijah Wood were among those who noticed their blue checkmarks had been restored without their consent. Astrophysicist and TV personality Neil deGrasse Tyson was surprised but not annoyed by the sudden restoration of his verification status. Other verified accounts belonging to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, chef Anthony Bourdain, and singer Chester Bennington, who have all passed away, also had their blue checkmarks restored.
It is unclear how many followers an account needs to be re-verified, but some speculate that Twitter restored blue checkmarks to accounts with over one million followers. However, some accounts without this quantity of followers have also received a blue check.
The move to paid verification is part of an effort to increase subscriptions to Twitter Blue, which offers other perks for its $8 per month subscription fee. Musk has threatened to upend Twitter's old practice of only verifying notable accounts since buying the social media platform last year, calling it a "lords & peasants system." The change to paid verification is also driven by revenue. Shortly after purchasing Twitter for $44 billion, Musk reportedly warned staff that the social media platform might go bankrupt without "significant subscription revenue," especially as advertising revenue dipped in the mont