What is verification?

Twitter verification is a small check mark in a scalloped blue circle that appears next to a username on the site or app. It previously only indicated Twitter had confirmed an account belonged to the person or organization claiming it, and that it was an active, “authentic” and notable account. Starting this week, that exact same icon can also mean an account has paid for the Twitter Blue subscription service. The paying account doesn’t need to meet the same requirements and Twitter does not review it.

Who can get a check mark now? How?

Anyone who has a Twitter account, an iOS device and an Apple ID can sign up for the Twitter Blue subscription service. It is not currently available on the web or Android devices. By signing up, you agree to an automatic payment of $7.99 a month to Twitter. It appears that, for now, previously verified accounts will keep their free check marks. However Twitter says it will no longer take applications for this type of verification, meaning any new notable accounts like a big brand, news publication or university will have to pay for Twitter Blue if they want a check mark. To sign up for Twitter Blue, open the Twitter app on an iOS device, click on your photo in the top left corner and select Twitter Blue. To cancel the subscription on your iPhone, go to Settings → your name → Subscriptions. Select Twitter from the list and tap Cancel Subscription.

What else do you get with Twitter Blue?

As of now, none of the other promised new features are available to subscribers. However, Twitter says the subscription will eventually include higher placement of tweets in replies and searches, 50 percent fewer ads and an option to upload longer videos. Musk previously tweeted that there could be a way to read news articles behind paywalls. The $7.99 will still get you access to a small list of features previously available as part of the old $4.99 Twitter Blue service: the ability to edit tweets, use an NFT as your profile photo and upload higher resolution videos.

How can you tell what accounts to trust?

Going forward, Twitter users should take additional precautions to avoid misinformation and to confirm who is behind an account. As of now, the paid and legacy verified check marks look identical on the web and mobile version of Twitter. To see the difference, you have to click through an account and tap on the check mark on its profile page to get more information. A paid account will say “This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue” and an account that was previously verified for real by Twitter will say “This account is verified because it’s notable in government, news, entertainment, or another designated category.” Musk later said he would update the wording to say “Legacy Verified. Could be notable, but could also be bogus.” Look at the actual handle of an account (@washingtonpost) and its display name (“The Washington Post”) to make sure they match and that there aren’t any typos. Find the date an account was created on its profile page and be skeptical of brand new profiles, especially ones claiming to be known people or institutions. Use Twitter lists of confirmed accounts or start your own of pages you’re sure are legitimate. Twitter says it will enforce rules for Twitter Blue accounts, including ones that forbid impersonation, avoiding bans and spam.

What are the possible consequences of paid verification?

It could make it difficult for many Twitter users to know which accounts to trust, especially since there is no visual difference between a paid and vetted check mark. Social media sites have struggled with widespread misinformation for years. The issue has been particularly pronounced on Twitter, where breaking news is most likely to unfold in real time, and a fake news story can spread at lightning speed. The site has also played an influential role in elections, where foreign influence campaigns, attempts to undermine election results and viral misinformation about candidates and voting can thrive. Musk has already suggested he would reverse a ban on former president Donald Trump, who used Twitter prolifically until his account was suspended permanently in 2021. Twitter executives believe more check marks will make the site safer. Jason Calacanis, a longtime Musk associate who has been brought in to help run Twitter, tweeted last week, “Having many more people verified on Twitter, while removing the bot armies, is the quickest path to making the platform safer & more usable for everyone.” Musk defended the idea Wednesday on a Twitter Spaces, saying it would make the site more reliable and help eliminate or demote fake accounts. It’s unclear if charging for verification will lead to more blue check marks or fewer, and if or when existing verifications could be revoked. It could lead to an exodus of more big-name Twitter posters, perhaps to find better, more lucrative social media homes elsewhere. Without its stars, Twitter could see a drop in regular users as well. Musk has tweeted that revenue from the new Twitter Blue could go toward a fund to “reward” creators, though it would need to pay creators at least $8 a month for them to break even. Immediately after the Blue program was available, a number of right wing accounts were sporting check marks including Libs of TikTok , which was behind a coordinated harassment campaign against a children’s hospital.

Why did Twitter start verifying accounts?

Verification was first launched in 2009 as a response to complaints from celebrities about impersonation. Kanye West — now known as Ye — was upset at the time that a Twitter user was pretending to be him, when he didn’t actually have an account at all. Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa sued the company over a page that impersonated him and made comments about drunken driving. In the beginning, verification was only offered to “public officials, public agencies, famous artists, athletes, and other well known individuals at risk of impersonation,” Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said in a 2009 blog post . Early verified accounts included the CDC, Neil Armstrong, Kim Kardashian, Oprah and the Milwaukee police department. In 2016 , Twitter opened the application process to everyone. The blue icon grew into a security feature for the site and a defense against misinformation, but is also seen as some as a status symbol that is unfairly doled out. Verification requests have been open to any accounts that are notable and “authentic” for years, creating a varied class of check-marked Twitter users with small and large followings. The company did not offer verification to parody and most fictional accounts, or accounts that violated other Twitter rules, including around spam, harassment and hate speech. On its previous application page, Twitter said verification is “not an incentive, reward or endorsement,” a statement at odds with charging for a check mark. The latest list of eligible accounts Twitter had on its site included official government accounts or officials, political candidates, news organizations and staff, brands, celebrities, activists, experts and content creators.

Why did Twitter make verification a paid feature?

Elon Musk paid $44 billion for Twitter and took over the company late last month. At the time of the closing, some analysts put the value at roughly half that figure, saying he overpaid . But investors have lined up to join Musk in taking the company private, gambling that the tech mogul and Tesla and SpaceX CEO has the vision to transform the social media company. Now, he has to deliver, shoring up Twitter’s revenue and finding new ways to make money. Twitter now owes roughly $1 billion a year in interest payments on the debt Musk accrued when buying it. Musk is expected to cut costs through layoffs and other methods. But he also needs advertisers to stay on the site, while also finding new ways to make money. Starting with subscriptions. On Nov. 1, Elon Musk tweeted confirmation that he would offer a combination of verification and the company’s paid Twitter Blue service. Twitter was considering charging as much as $20 a month for the privilege of having the blue check, according to a person familiar with the issue who spoke on the condition of anonymity at the time to discuss internal matters. Elon Musk argued on Twitter with Stephen King after the outraged author said the site should pay him instead.

What's New

Twitter’s paid verification service is here. What you need to know.

A coveted check mark will cost $7.99 a month for most

By Heather Kelly

and

Gerrit De Vynck

Updated November 9, 2022 at 7:53 p.m. EST|Published November 1, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

A twitter verification badge with a price tag on it — (Emma Kumer/The Washington Post)

9 min

The first big new Twitter feature under Elon Musk is here, but it will cost you.

The company on Wednesday released its much talked about revamped Twitter Blue subscription service for $7.99 a month. Its flagship feature is a signature check mark in blue next to your account name, which was previously free to notable accounts whose identity had been verified by the company.

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The rushed rollout has led to a confusing hierarchy of check marks on the site, uncertainty about which ones will be taken away, and attempts at impersonation and scams. Musk has indicated there could be more tests and changes in the future.

Whether you use social media site or not, the change could have broader implications for everything from misinformation to elections. Here’s everything thing you need to know about the change in how Twitter verifies users.

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