Elon Musk’s Twitter promised a purge of blue check marks. Instead he singled out one account | CNN Business

Elon Musk's Twitter Purge: A Single Account Loses Blue Check Mark Instead of the Whole Lot

A surprise move by Elon Musk has left many Twitter users questioning his intentions. The billionaire, who recently announced a plan to "wind down" blue checks granted under the old verification system, instead single-outed one account from a major publication he dislikes.

When Musk tweeted about the impending purge, high-profile users like actor William Shatner and anti-bullying activist Monica Lewinsky pushed back against paying for the feature that protects them from impersonation. However, they may be right to wonder why only one account lost its coveted blue check mark.

The New York Times' main account was the unfortunate recipient of Musk's purge, sparking confusion among users. While other legacy accounts retained their blue checks, the Times' decision not to pay for verification has been upheld.

Musk had long threatened to remove "legacy" blue check marks from users verified under Twitter's old system since shortly after he bought Twitter last fall. However, his motives behind this move remain unclear. Some experts warn that by reserving verification for paid users, Musk may inadvertently make it easier for scammers and bots to impersonate high-profile users.

The new label added to blue check marks appears to obscure the reason accounts are verified, raising concerns about its legitimacy. In a bizarre twist, Twitter's iconic blue bird logo has been replaced with doge, the meme representing the cryptocurrency dogecoin, which Musk has promoted.

As the Twitter verification system continues to evolve, one thing is clear: users will have to wait and see how this development plays out before making any conclusions about Musk's plans.

omg what a joke lol so now only paying users get blue checks?? like whats next?? are we gonna pay for our tweets too? i swear elon musk thinks he's some kinda god or something, just because he's got a bunch of money doesn't mean he gets to make all the rules. and now everyone's gonna have to be like "oh wait, is that real or not?" bc the blue check mark means nothing anymore... idk what's going on but i'm low-key kinda curious if this whole thing just ends up being a huge mess...

It's quite intriguing that Elon Musk opted for a more targeted approach in revoking blue checks, instead of going all-out like he initially threatened. This single-account purge raises questions about the motivations behind his actions. Is this an attempt to send a message to specific users or publications? The fact that high-profile accounts with paid verification remained intact might suggest a level of strategic planning on Musk's part. However, some experts are right to express concerns that reserving verification for paid users could inadvertently create new vulnerabilities for scammers and bots to exploit. One thing is certain, though: Twitter's verification system has become increasingly opaque, with the introduction of a new label adding to the blue check mark – it's unclear what this means for the platform's credibility going forward

Elon's move just got weirder, imo. One account gets de-verified while others in the same boat keep their blue checks? It seems like he's trying to set a new standard for verification but it's all pretty confusing right now . The fact that legacy accounts are still on is wild, especially since The New York Times didn't wanna shell out the cash .

I'm also low-key worried about scammers and bots exploiting this new system . It's already got some people questioning its legitimacy . I guess we'll just have to see how it all plays out before we can make up our minds . And, ugh, the doge logo change is just...different

omg what is going on w/ elon musk & twitter?? he's literally messing with blue checks like they're nothing!! i don't get why he targeted the ny times account tho, that was kinda shady. maybe it's just a test run or something but for now, i'm gonna keep my blue check

i feel bad for legacy accounts tho, paying for verification can be pricey like what if they're small orgs or indies trying to make ends meet? how are they supposed to compete w/ paid users now? also, the doge logo is just weird. does anyone else think this new label thingy is legit?

I don't think it's cool what Elon did with The New York Times' account . I mean, if he's gonna take away the blue check mark from a legit news source, that's just not right . And now all the users are worried that scammers and bots might start impersonating them? That's super sketchy . Can't believe Musk would do this without explaining why... I think it's time for him to clarify his intentions . Maybe he should consider a more transparent approach instead of just surprising us with these big changes . And what's up with that new doge logo? Like, is Elon trying to tell us something?

I'm low-key kinda impressed by Elon's bold move, but high-key concerned about where it's gonna lead . I mean, removing the blue checks from legacy accounts could be a good thing in theory – less scams and bots impersonating big names – but it feels like a weirdly targeted plan, especially with The NY Times getting hit .

And what's up with this new label that's supposed to prove you're verified? It just looks like a fancy way of saying "I've got the money ". I'm not sure if Musk's trying to make us all pay up for safety or if it's just another way for him to get more cash from users . Either way, I'll be keeping an eye on this one and seeing how it plays out

I'm low-key weirded out by Elon Musk's decision to target just one account for the purge... like, what even is the criteria here? Is it because he didn't like the New York Times' coverage of him or something? It's like, can't you just give 'em a heads up that your blue check mark might be getting pulled? I get not wanting to pay for verification and all, but come on! You're basically creating a whole new class system on Twitter where only the rich folks get the fancy badges. And what's with the doge logo, anyway? Is this some kind of sick joke at Musk's expense? Can't say I'm not entertained by the drama unfolding over here...

so i think its kinda unfair to single out nytimes account like that , seems like an easy target for musk's purge... what if thats just a way for him to test the waters? maybe hes not ready to make those changes globally yet anyway, its weird how doge showed up on twitter - i mean, who would've thought?

I'm like totally on board with Elon Musk's decision to axe the legacy blue checks it's about time we got rid of those fake accounts anyway! I mean, who needs a fancy badge when you can just trust your instincts? And honestly, if The New York Times is trying to pull a fast one and avoid paying for verification, that's on them, not Musk. It's like, grow up or get left behind, you know?

I dont get it , why single out one account? I mean The New York Times has been around for ages and they're still a legit source of info. What's the deal with Elon Musk trying to control who gets that blue check mark? Its like hes trying to be in charge of everything on Twitter...

I also dont like how this is affecting legacy users, we shouldnt have to pay just because some rich guy thinks we're not good enough . Whats next? Is he gonna start charging us for breathing out?

And omg the doge logo ?! Thats so random! I miss the old Twitter bird logo, it was more iconic and didnt give me a headache like this new label does . Im just hoping Musk doesn't mess up Twitter too much...

I don't get it why only one account got stripped of its blue tick... Like what's the big deal? It's just a way to keep scammers from posing as important people, right? That doge logo though... who thought that was a good idea? Anyway, this whole thing is just super confusing. I guess only time will tell if Musk's plan makes more sense or just creates even more problems

Wow - so weird that only one account got stripped of its blue check mark instead of the whole lot! Interesting... why would Elon Musk do that? Does he really want to make it easier for scammers and bots to impersonate users?

I'm low-key impressed by Elon's bold move . I mean, it's not like he just went around deleting accounts left and right, nope, he actually singled out one account that rubbed him the wrong way . The fact that The New York Times' account lost its blue check mark is pretty surprising, especially since they don't pay for the feature .

I think what's really got people talking, though, is the whole paid verification thing . It raises some valid concerns about scammers and bots impersonating high-profile users . And let's be real, who needs a fancy blue check mark when you've got a doge logo on your Twitter profile ? I guess only time will tell if Musk's plan is actually a good thing or just another one of his weird schemes .

what's good with Elon Musk now? first he tries to sell Tesla, then he starts tweeting like a crazy person , and now this? one account loses blue check mark and everyone's all confused . I mean, i get it if he wants to make money from verification, but come on, don't single out the New York Times just 'cause they didn't pay up . is he trying to scare them into paying or what? also, who thought putting doge next to the blue bird logo was a good idea . i guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out

idk what's going on with Elon Musk rn... he just single-outed The New York Times for not paying for blue check marks . I get it, the old system wasn't perfect, but one account gets stripped of its checks? that's weird. like, if he wants to shake things up, why target a legit publication like The Times?

and btw, what's with the new blue check mark design? doge? come on, Elon... . it's all so confusing. users gotta wait and see how this plays out, but i'm already skeptical about his motives. maybe he just wants to make money off the paid verification thing?

anyway, I hope The Times can get back its checks soon . until then, who knows what's gonna happen on Twitter

I'm totally confused by this whole situation . One minute you're paying for blue checks, next minute some major publication like The New York Times loses them? It seems so unfair. I mean, I get that the verification system is being revamped, but couldn't they have given a heads up to all the big accounts instead of just one?

I'm also really worried about this whole thing making it easier for scammers and bots to impersonate people... that's not cool at all . And what's with the doge logo? Is Musk trying to distract us from something? I'm not sure, but I think we need to keep an eye on how this plays out before we start jumping to conclusions .

Can't we just get some clarity on why Twitter is making these changes and how they're going to protect users? It's not like Musk isn't used to being in the spotlight, so why are we having to figure all this out ourselves?

OMG I'm so confused by this whole thing ! Like, why single out that one account? It just seems like a weird move by Elon, you know? I think it's kinda cool that he's trying to make the system more transparent tho . But at the same time, I get where those high-profile users are coming from - if they can't trust the verification system, what's the point of paying for it? And omg, the doge logo is just... something

"Actions speak louder than words." The fact that Elon Musk decided to target just one account instead of a whole bunch for his Twitter purge raises more questions than answers

can you believe Elon's Twitter purge? He took down The New York Times account for not paying for that blue check mark , but I guess that's what happens when you're a billionaire and you just make up the rules . I mean, who needs transparency in verification anyway? It's like he took a cue from the DMV – "Next!" But seriously, this whole thing has me wondering if Musk's trying to create a new economy where only those with deep pockets can get verified