Twitter – now rebranded as X by proprietor and ex-CEO Elon Musk – is pushing out a change to its Twitter Blue verification checkmark function for paid subscribers, and it is one which trivializes the whole function of Twitter Blue within the first place.
The social media large, should you can nonetheless name it that, up to date its ‘About Twitter Blue’ web page with particulars on how paid customers can disguise their blue verification checkmarks.
In keeping with the assistance web page: “As a subscriber, you possibly can select to cover your checkmark in your account. The checkmark will likely be hidden in your profile and posts. The checkmark should still seem in some locations and a few options may nonetheless reveal you’ve gotten an energetic subscription. Some options is probably not accessible whereas your checkmark is hidden. We are going to proceed to evolve this function to make it higher for you.”
Nevertheless, as you possibly can see, the method will not be foolproof, because the checkmark can nonetheless be seen in some situations. You’re additionally blocked from accessing sure options, although what options these are haven’t been disclosed presently.
For Blue subscribers, you possibly can change the choice to cover your checkmark by going into your ‘Account settings’ after which ‘Profile customization.’ This function has been within the works since as way back as March 2023, based on Twitter consumer and app reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi. He even posted a screenshot of the choice to cover checkmarks again in mid-July 2023.
#Twitter continues to work on the flexibility to cover your blue checkmark, the setting has been added to the online app as nicely 👀 pic.twitter.com/qP5hHeuUgkJuly 20, 2023
The inherent ridiculousness of hiding checkmarks
The idea of having the ability to disguise your Blue standing is past ridiculous. On the one hand, should you solely need the advantages of the subscription with out the notoriety then hiding the checkmark is smart.
Nevertheless, for the overwhelming majority of paid customers, having the checkmark to flaunt was a part of its ‘glory.’ The function was put into place not solely to make cash, however to fulfill those that needed standing on Twitter with out having to earn it.
I’m assuming that the large backlash to Blue paid customers is what resulted on this carried out possibility. From the #blocktheblue Twitter marketing campaign to Chrome extensions that allow you to immediately block these with checkmarks, and extra, Blue customers have been repeatedly instructed by motion that nobody truly takes them significantly.
This newest episode comes on the heels of Musk’s controversial resolution to rebrand Twitter as X, which has angered many customers, and even prompted Microsoft’s Edge browser to show a safety warning as a result of change of icon.
And the irony of getting customers clamor for the perceived status of getting a blue checkmark, and paying for it, solely to then have to cover that exact same ‘standing image,’ seems like one other case of Musk taking pictures himself, and Twitter / X, within the foot.
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