Twitter has just announced a new subscription service that for $7.99 a month includes a blue check next to your name, similar to the verification mark given to celebrities and other public figures. This has caused some controversy, as there is worry that imposters could sign up for the service and pose as election officials or politicians in the lead up to the midterm elections in the United States.
Twitter’s verification process has been criticized in the past for being opaque and inconsistently applied. The social media platform has been accused of bias, particularly against conservatives, in who it grants a verified account status. In response to these criticisms, Twitter says it is “overhauling” its verification system and will be “taking a more holistic approach” to verification in the future.
The blue check mark next to a Twitter account name indicates that an account of public interest is authentic. verified accounts are reviewed by Twitter to make sure they are not impersonating someone else and that they are not engaging in abusive behavior.
Critics say that by making the verification mark available for purchase, Twitter is opening up the system to abuse and undermining the trustworthiness of its platform. It remains to be seen how successful or popular the new subscription service will be, but it has already caused some concern among users ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Twitter’s new subscription service is causing some controversy due to worries that imposters could pose as election officials or politicians ahead of the midterm elections in the United States. While Twitter says it is overhauling its verification system, many users are skeptical about whether or not this will be enough to prevent abuse of the new system. Only time will tell how successful or popular the new service will be, but it has already caused some concern among users.
Twitter’s new subscription service is causing some controversy due to worries that imposters could pose as election officials or politicians ahead of the midterm elections in the United States. While Twitter says it is overhauling its verification system, many users are skeptical about whether or not this will be enough to prevent abuse of the new system. Only time will tell how successful or popular the new service will be, but it has already caused some concern among users.
