In a surprising move by Elon Musk, all celebrities, including those with established followings, have had their verified check marks removed, and now the only way to get verified is to pay for it. This has sparked a larger conversation about the role of influencers in society and whether the era of the social media influencer is truly over.
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The influencer era has been a significant cultural phenomenon in recent years, as social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have given rise to a new breed of celebrity. These influencers have amassed large followings and have become valuable assets to brands looking to reach younger audiences.
The Influencer Era Coming To An End?
However, recent developments on Twitter suggest that the influencer era may be coming to an end. Twitter, one of the largest social media platforms in the world, has made some controversial changes to its verification system. In the past, verified check marks were awarded to users who were confirmed to be authentic and of public interest.
However, at the beginning of 2023, the platform introduced the idea of allowing regular people to purchase verified check marks, so that they could blend in amongst verified celebrities called Twitter Blue.
On April 20, 2023, all celebrity check marks were removed. Now, the only way to get verified on Twitter is to pay for it. This change has upset many celebrities, who strongly believe the verified check mark was a way to distinguish themselves from other users on the platform and that it was something they earned through their hard work and dedication.
Celebs Speak Their Piece On Twitter’s Blue Check Mark Change
Memphis artist Gloss Up also shared her thoughts stating “being verified used to mean something, I cried when I got mine.”
Akon, who attempted to take a stand against Musk claimed that celebrities ultimately built the Twitter platform and stated he wasn’t paying “Sh*t” for a blue check mark. He has now deleted the tweets and has subscribed to Twitter Blue, the paid subscription.
This raises the question, do verified check marks really mean that much to people?
Regular people are also unhappy with the changes. They feel that the verified check mark was a way to identify real celebrities and that it was important to know if the person they were interacting with was actually who they claimed to be. Without the verified check mark, it’s harder to tell if someone is a troll account or a fake.
Nicki Minaj’s fans, for example, have expressed confusion over whether the account claiming to be her is actually hers or a fake. Without the verified check mark to distinguish the real from the fake, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to know who to trust on the platform.
Some argue that the influencer era has run its course and that people are beginning to see through the smoke and mirrors. They believe that people are becoming more skeptical of the content they see on social media and that the days of blindly following influencers are coming to an end.
Elon Musk Buys Twitter
Everyone seems to be upset about Elon Musk’s recent Twitter ownership. Black Activists including NAACP and Kanye West were concerned about their Freedom of speech now that it is in Musk’s hands.
