Twitter has recently launched its paid service, Twitter Blue, which offers exclusive features to subscribers, such as undo tweets, bookmark folders, reader mode, and more. However, this also means that users who do not subscribe to Twitter Blue will lose their verification badges, or the blue ticks, that indicate their authenticity and credibility on the platform.
Twitter Blue is now available globally! Sign up today to get your blue checkmark, prioritized ranking in conversations, half ads, long Tweets, Bookmark Folders, custom navigation, Edit Tweet, Undo Tweet, and more. Sign up here: https://t.co/SBRLJccMxD
— Twitter Blue (@TwitterBlue) March 23, 2023
This has affected many prominent Indian celebrities from the film industry, such as Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and others, who have seen their blue ticks disappear from their profiles.
According to Twitter, only around 300,000 users had verified accounts before the launch of Twitter Blue, and most of them were from the fields of arts, science, sports and politics.
Celeb reaction
Some celebrities who lost their blue ticks have expressed their views on Twitter.
T 4622 – अरे, Twitter मालिक भैया , ये Twitter पे एक Edit button भी लगा दो please !!!
बार बार जब ग़लती हो जाती है, और शुभचिंतक, बताते हैं हमें, तो पूरा Tweet, delete करना पड़ता है, और ग़लत Tweet को ठीक कर के, फिर से छापना पड़ता है ।
हाथ जोड़ रहे हैं 🙏— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 19, 2023
Actor Prakash Raj, known for his roles in both Hindi and South Indian films, tweeted: “Bye bye #BlueTick …. It was nice having you….my journey ..my conversations..my sharing…will continue with my people … you take care #justasking”.
Comedian Ricky Gervais, famous for his shows like The Office and After Life, joked: “My blue tick has gone. I’m not sure if I’m really me or not.”
T 4623 – ए twitter भइया ! सुन रहे हैं ? अब तो पैसा भी भर दिये हैं हम … तो उ जो नील कमल ✔️ होत है ना, हमार नाम के आगे, उ तो वापस लगाय दें भैया , ताकि लोग जान जायें की हम ही हैं – Amitabh Bachchan .. हाथ तो जोड़ लिये रहे हम । अब का, गोड़वा 👣जोड़े पड़ी का ??
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 21, 2023
Others have not commented on the issue yet, but their fans have noticed the change and have created memes and jokes about it. Some have compared celebrities without blue ticks to their lookalikes or impersonators. For example, one user posted a picture of Salman Khan with a blue tick and another of his wax statue without a blue tick.
Elon Musk reveals he is ‘personally paying’ the Twitter Blue subscriptions of some celebrities to keep their checkmark, such as Lebron James and Stephen King. pic.twitter.com/ulLvwOyLIn
— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 20, 2023
What does it mean?
Removing blue ticks from legacy accounts is part of Twitter’s strategy to monetize its platform and offer more value to its paying customers. According to Twitter, the blue tick is a symbol of trust and recognition that helps users find reliable sources of information and engage with them. However, some critics have argued that the blue tick also creates a hierarchy and a bias among users, and that it should not be linked to a subscription fee.
Twitter has also clarified that users who lose their blue ticks can still apply for verification through a self-serve process that requires them to provide proof of identity and public interest. However, this process may take time and not guarantee a positive outcome. Alternatively, users can subscribe to Twitter Blue and enjoy the benefits of having a blue tick along with other features.
What next
Twitter’s decision to remove blue ticks from non-subscribers has caused a stir among many Indian celebrities and their fans. While some have reacted with humor or indifference, others may feel disappointed or annoyed by the change.
However, this is not the end of the road for them, as they can still regain their blue ticks by subscribing to Twitter Blue or applying for verification again.
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