How Musk’s new $8 verification plan could mean chaos for Twitter

Godfrey Elimian
New $8 Twitter Blue checkmarks barely answers questions on content moderation, or provide answers to impersonation
Twitter wants organisations to pay $1k to get verified "easily"

It is no longer news that Elon Musk’s plan to monetise Twitter and make it more profitable has officially kicked off, with many persons now acquiring the Twitter Blue verified badge for $8.

Although coming with backlash, the Tesla founder has maintained that the “little price” would remain and would be accompanied by several other features, which could come across as a “trial and error” thing. In his words-

However, the new Twitter verification badge policy could mean more chaos for the platform and Musk, seeing that the implementation plan is yet to be thought through. The current features leave more questions to be answered, as bots that impersonate actual accounts still exist in numbers.

In fact, it barely answers questions on content moderation going forward on the platform, since any “verified user” can make unfounded statement for as long as he/she can cough out $8

In truth, we’ve lost count of the times Elon Musk has changed his mind or made contradicting statements regarding what a new $8 verification badge would do. However, phoney accounts are already capitalising on this chaos now that the feature has been activated,

How Musk's new $8 verification plan could mean chaos for Twitter

Related also: Fresh headache for Twitter employees as Elon Musk ends remote work in 1st email

Since the rollout of Twitter’s bought blue checkmarks, several tweets have filled the timeline from paying subscribers taking advantage of the badge to impersonate official accounts. Although there is a smaller “Official” badge on the bio of some verified accounts, there is no significant distinction to differentiate an official account from an impersonated one.

You are either who you say you are now on the platform, or you can afford to pay $8 and pretend to be who you are not.

What are the consequences of the new $8 badge?

Since its launch in several locations, several trolls have impersonated celebrities and politicians. These accounts have posted false information to spread confusion on the microblogging platform. An account recently impersonated the basketball athlete, announcing his transfer away from the Lakers.

Other famous public figures, like baseball pitcher Aroldis Chapman, NHL player Connor McDavid, and former US president George Bush have also been impersonated.

Musk had earlier disclosed that Twitter Blue subscribers would not be allowed to edit their account name anyhow they like. He also stated that all parody accounts must declare this fact.

Accounts that failed to follow these rules have been suspended now, prompting the introduction and implementation of the “official” badge on the profiles of official accounts.

Read also; 5 likely changes to expect as Elon Musk takeover at Twitter

The timeline is gradually turning into a total mess, with “$8” accounts being able to carry out impersonation and having the potential to commit fraud for as long as they are undetectable. This development further rubbishes Musk’s intentions to drive out bots and fake accounts.

As it stands, anyone can impersonate someone else for $8 a month and see their content boosted algorithmically without any vetting.

Twitter users are beginning to question the ingenuity of implementing a “ridiculous” paid badge policy in the first place, slamming it as a short-sighted decision born out of a selfish interest in profitability.

What are the implications?

To call the hasty plan one with a significant consequence on Twitter’s image and reliability is an understatement. Twitter’s long-standing reputation as a platform for news and information would take another significant hit.

Twitter to start charging $8 for verification badge (blue tick) from next week
Twitter to start charging $8 for verification badge (blue tick) from next week

Previously, the platform had faced criticism for promoting fake news and non-censored statements from top governmental officials, including Nigeria. The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, recently criticised the platform and implied it was promoting lies with uncensored statements.

Read also: FG Bans Twitter in Nigeria following the deletion of president Buhari’s tweet.

Aside from the potential for misinformation, Musk’s plan also threatens the visibility of celebrities, which is one of the features that keeps regular Twitter users interested.

Twitter’s valuation will drop off a cliff relatively quickly, and its ad revenue won’t be far after if users can’t even dependably discover famous individuals to follow like athletes, politicians, and movie stars.


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