Elon Musk's next target for changes to Twitter seems to be the Verified checkmark. Twitter has a method of verifying the identity of a Twitter account, whether it represents an individual, a product, a business, an organization, or a government office. However, since it isn't easy to get the checkmark, it has become a desirable status symbol among Twitter users, indicating that the account or what it represents is significant enough to warrant special attention.
The purpose of the Verified badge is to make it clear to Twitter users that this is the actual person or official representative for the account, and it takes the form of a blue checkmark that appears beside the name of the Twitter account. This shows on the profile page, every Tweet, and every reply, making it a powerful reminder that this account is worthy of extra attention. So naturally, every prolific Twitter user would enjoy that degree of respect, and Elon Musk seems to favor expanding the program to more users.
Elon Musk, now a Twitter board member and the biggest shareholder of Twitter stock, turned his sights on the checkmark that identifies a Twitter account as Verified with a Tweet that suggests a significant expansion of the program. This highly coveted blue badge shows that a Twitter account is 'authentic, notable, and active,' according to a Twitter help page. Musk suggests that anyone that pays the $3 per month Twitter Blue subscription fee should get a checkmark. A follow-up Tweet clarifies that this should be different from the blue badge but still signify the account is authentic. When challenged in a comment to consider lower prices in other countries, Musk agreed and suggested a proportional rate tied to the local affordability and currency. The Tesla CEO also indicated that Twitter Blue should cost only $2 a month paid annually.
More Verified Twitter Accounts
There were few, if any, arguments against this idea in the replies, with most simply joining in with suggestions or asking questions about edge cases. For example, a question arose about what would happen if a user canceled their Twitter Blue subscription. Musk replied that the Verified checkmark should disappear since allowing it to stay would lead to abuse of the system with a person signing up briefly only to get the checkmark, then canceling.
Documentation is required to get a Verified account, and Musk isn't suggesting that this should go away. Collecting an annual subscription in advance and delaying it for 60 days provides extra assurance that the system won't be abused. Having more people on Twitter Blue would reduce the company's dependence on advertising and make more Verified accounts, providing greater security and trust, all of which are positive changes. It should be noted that Elon Musk's tweets are not a guarantee that this will be implemented on Twitter, but it's an intriguing possibility.
Source: Elon Musk/Twitter, Twitter