{"id":320,"date":"2022-11-02T00:27:09","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T00:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/?p=320"},"modified":"2023-02-17T17:06:24","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T17:06:24","slug":"chaos-ensues-as-elon-musk-touts-paid-twitter-verification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/writing\/reportage\/chaos-ensues-as-elon-musk-touts-paid-twitter-verification\/","title":{"rendered":"Chaos ensues as Elon Musk touts paid Twitter verification"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"707\" src=\"http:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20221102-Twitter-Verification-IY-0001-1-1024x707.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20221102-Twitter-Verification-IY-0001-1-1024x707.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20221102-Twitter-Verification-IY-0001-1-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20221102-Twitter-Verification-IY-0001-1-768x530.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/20221102-Twitter-Verification-IY-0001-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A user fires up the Twitter app on his smartphone in Calgary on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. The beleaguered social media giant has faced multiple challenges anew since billionaire Elon Musk officially acquired it on Oct. 27, 2022. (Photo by Iris Young\/SAIT)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After months of back and forth, which included harsh words, whistleblowing, and lawsuits, Elon Musk is officially the new owner of Twitter. Of course, in true Musk fashion, he &#8220;let that sink in&#8221; in the most telling way possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CkME0LHoMxq\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CkME0LHoMxq\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CkME0LHoMxq\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by elonmusk (@elonmusk)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the deal was sealed late Thursday, Oct. 27, Musk had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/10\/27\/tech\/elon-musk-twitter\">fired Twitter\u2019s leadership<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/economy\/2022\/11\/1\/elon-musk-fires-twitter-board-making-himself-sole-director\">the entire board of directors<\/a>, installed himself as CEO, teased the return of <em>Vine<\/em>, and flouted the promise of \u201cfree speech\u201d on the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">the bird is freed<\/p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1585841080431321088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the drama is far from over. The latest in the Twitter saga has the self-proclaimed \u201cChief Twit\u201d angling for paid verification as a means to turn a profit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The whole verification process is being revamped right now<\/p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1586848033550934016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 30, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At present, Twitter verification is free. However, users go through stringent vetting to get verified. Thus far, this has been a tried-and-true way of separating legitimate accounts from imposters and bots, especially for celebrities, politicians, journalists, influencers, and even businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Making influencers &amp; experts pay for Twitter verification makes it harder to identify their real accounts vs people impersonating them, and makes it less likely they&#8217;ll stay on Twitter. Seems like both Twitter&#8217;s employee base and user base are going to undergo a brain drain.<\/p>\u2014 Renee (@paix120) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/paix120\/status\/1586981494525927425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 31, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.platformer.news\/p\/elons-first-big-move-pay-to-remain\">Sources say<\/a> that Musk\u2019s directive is to overhaul Twitter Blue, an optional monthly subscription priced at $4.99 that unlocks a handful of additional features. The new iteration will be priced at $19.99 and will include verification. Current verified users are to be given 90 days to subscribe or lose their coveted blue checkmarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unsurprisingly, this new development has been met with backlash, with some of Twitter&#8217;s most respected and beloved users weighing in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"zxx\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/okky7W9Oy5\">https:\/\/t.co\/okky7W9Oy5<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4xdU61SJ0y\">pic.twitter.com\/4xdU61SJ0y<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarkHamill\/status\/1587537299348152321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 1, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Twitter with verification vs. Twitter when I refuse to pay $20 a month for it <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/knP5vEGg2v\">pic.twitter.com\/knP5vEGg2v<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RealLyndaCarter\/status\/1587085996310642690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 31, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Hilarious thing is, I\u2019m a current twitter Blue subscriber, but I\u2019ll need to unsubscribe if they make verification conditional to having a Twitter Blue subscription because paying for a check mark is 100% cringe. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TwitterBlue?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TwitterBlue<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/i3XmiF66TF\">https:\/\/t.co\/i3XmiF66TF<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Hank Green (@hankgreen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hankgreen\/status\/1586832569869357057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 30, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The final nail in the coffin for Musk&#8217;s $20-a-month plan was eventually hammered in by author Stephen King, whose strongly worded tweet prompted both a response from Musk and a sizeable price drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?<\/p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1587312517679878144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 1, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this olive branch, it is clear that the issue of paid Twitter verification has created yet another rift in the traditionally contentious platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8<\/p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1587911540770222081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 2, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-partner=\"tweetdeck\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The wealthy people complaining about an $8 Twitter account that would actually benefit them while lashing out at the man who is paying billions to try to save free speech is making me want to pay the $8 to just stick it to them. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@elonmusk<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ELONMUSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ELONMUSK<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TwitterTakeover?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TwitterTakeover<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FreeSpeech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FreeSpeech<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Royal Brettrager II (@RoyalBrettrager) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RoyalBrettrager\/status\/1587941022872797184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 2, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-partner=\"tweetdeck\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This whole blue <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CheckMark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CheckMark<\/a> controversy is kind of funny, but what&#8217;s even more funny (sad really) is the amount of people who don&#8217;t seem to understand the difference between negligible cost and principle. \ud83d\ude02 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TwitterBlue?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TwitterBlue<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BlueTick?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BlueTick<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BlueCheckMark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BlueCheckMark<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TwitterVerification?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TwitterVerification<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/VerifiedBadge?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#VerifiedBadge<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Greg Behrens (@gregbehrensvfx) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/gregbehrensvfx\/status\/1587938924072402947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 2, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Journalists, in particular, have expressed concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Verification was a lot less important when Twitter wasn\u2019t where all news broke and was just a running conversation like Reddit. But once you make the news part your core product\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/J6PEA2Ymx1\">https:\/\/t.co\/J6PEA2Ymx1<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BenjySarlin\/status\/1587412563343671297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 1, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@taylorlorenz\/video\/7160452045546229034\" data-video-id=\"7160452045546229034\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@taylorlorenz\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@taylorlorenz?refer=embed\">@taylorlorenz<\/a> <p>Replying to @professionallygenx I\u2019ll probably pay and expense it since it\u2019s important for work (reaching out to ppl for comment) <a title=\"twitter\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/twitter?refer=embed\">#twitter<\/a> <a title=\"elon\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/elon?refer=embed\">#elon<\/a> <a title=\"elonmusk\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/elonmusk?refer=embed\">#elonmusk<\/a> <a title=\"tech\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/tech?refer=embed\">#tech<\/a> <a title=\"technews\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/technews?refer=embed\">#technews<\/a> <a title=\"technology\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/technology?refer=embed\">#technology<\/a> <\/p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c The Loneliest Time - Carly Rae Jepsen &#038; Rufus Wainwright\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/The-Loneliest-Time-7151210348707350529?refer=embed\">\u266c The Loneliest Time &#8211; Carly Rae Jepsen &#038; Rufus Wainwright<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">And if he thinks anyone will pay $240 a year for a blue check mark, he doesn\u2019t know how much money journalists actually make.<\/p>\u2014 Scott Nover (@ScottNover) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ScottNover\/status\/1586894911890153472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 31, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So now the question remains&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstelzner%2Fposts%2Fpfbid033bCpcTfPvuYjDL5WRkCnkqs2ERrEyJc8cvuuMjb9ryYsMLqs7WvDvtAXQcgpNqcZl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"474\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But regardless of how this saga plays out, one thing&#8217;s for sure: Twitter is where all the drama is right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Twitter is simply the most interesting place on the Internet. That\u2019s why you\u2019re reading this tweet right now.<\/p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1587877870860484610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 2, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The latest in the Twitter saga Elon Musk angling for paid verification as a means to turn a profit. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":342,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reportage"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=320"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":512,"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320\/revisions\/512"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iriswrites.com\/portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}