William Shatner Claps Back At Elon Musk Over ‘Money Grab’ Change To Blue Checkmark Verification
etcanada.comSince the earliest days of Twitter, the social media platform has used a blue checkmark to verify the accounts of celebrities, journalists, politicians and other notables, serving as proof that they are who they claim to be.
As of April 1, however, Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk, has instituted a new paid service for these verification checkmarks, with users now forced to pony up $8 per month in order for a blue checkmark. “Starting April 1, 2023, we’ll begin winding down our legacy verification program,” reads a message on Twitter’s help page. READ MORE: Selena Gomez Slams Elon Musk’s ‘Dangerous’ Twitter Takeover, Reveals How ‘Mean’ Trolls’ Comments Used To Affect Her: ‘I Would Constantly Be Crying’ The message also insists that users who purchase a blue check “may not impersonate individuals, groups or organizations to mislead, confuse or deceive others, nor use a fake identity in a manner that disrupts the experience of others on Twitter.” Policing fake-but-verified accounts, however, promises to be a logistical nightmare, given that the Twittersphere is practically bursting with bogus accounts.
Meanwhile, numerous celebrities are balking at the notion of paying a monthly fee to simply prove their identity, and they’ve been expressing themselves via — where else? — Twitter. READ MORE: John Oliver Slams Elon Musk Following Twitter Takeover: ‘A Total Mess’ One of the most vociferous opponents of Musk’s new scheme is Canadian actor and all-around living legend William Shatner, who addressed Musk directly in a recent tweet. “Hey @elonmusk what’s this about blue checks going away unless we pay Twitter?
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