Twitter Blue 2022 Elon Musk meme.

Twitter Blue

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Updated Nov 10, 2022 at 12:37PM EST by Zach.

Added Nov 09, 2022 at 03:43PM EST by Owen.

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About

Twitter Blue, sometimes referred to as Twitter Premium, is an extra paid subscription service on Twitter originally introduced in mid-2021 but made notable after Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform in late 2022 that involved paying for a verified account. Additionally, $8 blue checkmarks became a trending subject before Twitter Blue's November 2022 virality due to Musk hinting at the development multiple times beforehand. Musk was also rumored to be considering a monthly Twitter paywall, purportedly embedded in the future of Twitter Blue. Following these events, Musk's decisions for Twitter caused mass backlash and memes, mostly making fun of the people who would "actually pay for Twitter Blue." Parody accounts impersonating celebrities, companies and news outlets (among other verified entities) also generated controversy due to them taking advantage of the "pay for blue checkmark" system and allegedly scamming users.

History

On June 3rd, 2021, the official Twitter account of Twitter Blue posted its first announcement tweet[1] that introduced itself as, "a new subscription service designed to give you more customization over your Twitter experience and access to premium features, including: 🔹Undo Tweet 🔹Bookmark Folders 🔹Reader Mode." Over the course of a year and a half, the tweet received roughly 2,700 likes (shown below). Twitter posted a long-form blog post on the feature's components to its website.[2] In June 2021, Twitter Blue cost $2.99/month in the U.S.[3]


Developments

Soon after in June 2021, multiple news outlets like the New York Post[3] covered the feature. However, Twitter Blue didn't receive significant attention until April 2022 when Elon Musk, who at the time was only the company's number one shareholder and not its CEO, considered altering Twitter Blue's service. On April 9th, 2022, news outlet Reuters[4] published an article about Musk's Twitter Blue concepts that included, "slashing its price, banning advertising and giving an option to pay in the cryptocurrency dogecoin."

On May 6th, 2022, The New York Times[5] spoke with Musk about his plans for Twitter Blue. He expressed ambition for Twitter Blue, claiming that "he would increase Twitter’s annual revenue to $26.4 billion by 2028, up from $5 billion last year (2021)," mostly due to the revenue from Twitter Blue subscriptions.

On July 29th, 2022, Mashable[6] reported that Twitter Blue was "67 percent more expensive," increasing from $2.99 to $4.99 per month. This occurred after Musk stopped wanting to buy Twitter but months before his eventual acquisition of the company.

Edit Button

On September 1st, 2022, Twitter announced via a tweet[7] that it was introducing an "Edit" button (seen below). At first, it was just a beta test and would be rolled out to all Twitter Blue subscribers later in the month.


In early October 2022, multiple Twitter Blue subscribers confirmed the "Edit" button's existence. This occurred on October 3rd, 2022, announced in a tweet[8] from the Twitter Blue account. On October 6th, the "Edit" button was made available for U.S. Twitter Blue subscribers, announced via a different Twitter Blue account tweet[9] (shown below).


Twitter $8 Blue Checkmarks

On October 27th, 2022, Elon Musk officially acquired Twitter, becoming its CEO. In accordance with his history of interest in Twiter Blue's rapid, revenue progression, on October 30th, news outlet Platformer[10] was the first to report that Musk was mulling over charging a monthly $5 fee for the previously free verification mark as a part of Twitter Blue, Twitter's premium subscription service. Later that day, The Verge[11] reported that Musk considered changing the cost of Twitter Blue from $4.99 to $19.99 per month.

On October 31st, 2022, writer Stephen King posted a tweet[12] in which he wrote that he would stop using Twitter if the change was instituted, adding that Twitter should be paying him rather than vice versa. On November 1st, Musk then replied[13] to the tweet, commenting that "Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers" and suggesting that the price should be $8 (exchange shown below).


Stephen King @Stephen King. Oct 31 $20 a month to keep my blue check? F--- that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I'm gone like Enron. 149.5K 62.1K Elon Musk @elonmusk 520.1K 1:16 AM Nov 1, 2022. Twitter for iPhone ↑ Replying to @Stephen King We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?

Multiple humorous reactions and memes were levied in the following days. For instance, on November 1st, content creator Nopeify tweeted[14] a meme referencing the change that gained over 1,300 retweets and 45,400 likes in one day (shown below, left). On November 2nd, Redditor[15] Mobanite08 shared a Pimples? Zero meme about the proposed change that received over 5,800 upvotes on /r/memes in eight hours (shown below, right).


nopeify @nopeifyaltalt Nahh man W-- they do to Twitter 20:09 <2000 Ⓡ nopeify @nopeifyaltalt 293 Following 283,8K Followers Profile Topics 3:12 PM Nov 1, 2022. Twitter Web App 56 Pimples? ( Blackheads Number of people who think the Blue Checkmark subscription makes sense made with mematic ZERO Zero Zero Zero Kayashsharma

Twitter Blue Verified Accounts "Official" Label

On November 8th, 2022, early-stage products manager at Twitter Esther Crawford posted a tweet[16] that addressed user concerns over how to distinguish between Twitter Blue subscribers and actual verified accounts in the future. She stated that there would be an "Official" label listed in the bio of a verified account underneath its username (example shown below). She further stated in a reply[17] that, "Not all previously verified accounts will get the 'Official' label and the label is not available for purchase. Accounts that will receive it include government accounts, commercial companies, business partners, major media outlets, publishers and some public figures."


Twitter @Twitter Official What's happening?! hatsune mitski @zephanijong my twitter is like a diary except i'm making it everyone's problem Jul 14, 2021 everywhere Joined February 2007 6 Following 64.9M Followers 22 ... about.twitter.com Born March 21 さわ Following

Online Reactions

Various reactions surfaced in November 2022 regarding what two different kinds of verified "blue checkmarks" meant for Twitter. For instance, on November 8th, 2022, Twitter[18] user Julian_Epp used the George Bush Learning About 9/11 format to say, “Sir, a second checkmark has hit Twitter,” gaining roughly 12,000 likes in one day (shown below, left). Also on November 8th, Twitter[19] user D3NNI_yt tweeted a humorous solution to possible verified account impersonators, gaining roughly 5,900 likes in one day (shown below, right).


Jules @Julian_Epp Replying to @esthercrawford and @TwitterBlue "Sir, a second checkmark has hit Twitter" PRE MA CO 6:04 PM Nov 8, 2022 Twitter for iPhone : D3NNI @D3NNI_yt Just a suggestion. @elonmusk @Twitter @verified Official Twitter Blue Verified Users Verified Users Twitter @Twitter Twitter @Twitter Twitter @Twitter 7:24 PM . Nov 8, 2022. Twitter Web App Twitter @Impersonator Twitter @Impersonator Twitter @Impersonator : Made by @D3NNI_yt

Verified Account Parodies and Impersonators / Scam Concerns

Due to the capability of any Twitter account to gain a blue checkmark status via a Twitter Blue subscription, concerns over impersonators and scams emerged. Shortly after, scams as a result of the aforementioned conflict were then purported by users on November 8th, 2022. For instance, on November 9th, Twitter[20] user GillianDN tweeted evidence of a blue checkmark account impersonating Twitter's official account in order to trick users into a crypto scam. GillianDN's tweet received roughly 1,300 likes in less than a day (shown below).


Gillian de Nooijer @GillianDN So, does Elon Musk's new paid Twitter Blue verification system lead to more scams? Hmmm, I don't know, let's ask this Verified Twitter account over here, he seems rather official. Tens of thousands of people seem to agree... FACER Twitter @SzAt_0 The Verified blue badge source Journalist 1,156 Following 26K Followers Not followed by anyone you're following Tweets Tweets & replies twitter-blue.com Joined July 2013 Twitter @SzAt_0-24m Whoa, Twitter Blue is now available for free Authenticate now: twitter-blue.com 2020 O QUE ESTA CITECEND 6+ 28.4K Crypto/NFT holders can now get Twitter Blue for free by authenticating their wallet assets Twitter @SzAt_0-45m Whoa, Twitter Blue is now available for free Authenticate now: twitterblue.com Media Ps, there might be a little surprise after authenticating... bird NFT?.. 1,118 4,985 ↑ Follow x 11:49 AM . Nov 9, 2022. Twitter Web App Likes Crypto/NFT holders can now get Twitter Blue for free by authenticating their wallet assets : 2014 Ps, there might be a little surprise after authenticating... bird NFT?.. 17 30 DV

Later on November 9th, 2022, Twitter[21] user oneunderscore__ exposed an account pretending to be LeBron James that faked a LeBron announcement that he was leaving the Los Angeles Lakers and returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Twitter user oneunderscore__ received roughly 2,500 likes in less than a day (shown below, left). Also on November 9th, verified Twitter[22] Blue user named Jason_Calcanis was pretending to be Jason Calcanis and tweeted about Jeffrey Epstein (shown below, right).


Ben Collins @oneunderscore___ Here was the tweet. They're banking on the fact that their moderation team will catch up to every single account impersonating someone even if that person is impersonating a no-name government official. This is going to be a nightmare that'll be very funny before it's scary. LeBron James @KINGJamez I am officially requesting a trade. Thank you #LakersNation for all the support through the years. 100 Onto bigger and better things! #ThekidfromAKRON #ImComing Home BERE m wish TAKERS 3:12 PM . Nov 9, 2022 Twitter Web App : 35 Jason Calcanis @Jason_Calcanis Tired of trolls posting Epstein book at me. I knew Jeff only on a profsnl basis. Visited townhouse and took a fundraising meeting on his island. Every attendance was 18+. No possibility that anything illegal happened Verification will put these in spam where in they belong Deep Jimpact Replying to @Jason @arianapekary and 2 others CRAZY @Jiimmmmmmmmmmmm. Aug 4, 2020 FRO Busson, Arki New York, NY 0207 00 41 001 313 0012 00 33 Butter, Charlie 12 Longon 0207- 0207- 0207 017 London 0795 0207 Ermal (Hm) Oxfoldshica Button Terri Vise International London (2) 0 3:18 PM Nov 9, 2022 Twitter for iPhone LUK Byng, Robert Kw) h) Scotland mobile USA (sister) Parents (wf) |(h) @hotmail.com parents) 0207 0207- Cadenet de Alain London 0207 0207 Calacanis, Jason (h) (h) 0207 0861 0207 X Caledon, Nicky Caledon Caslie Caledon Nortnern frerano, 00.41 0861 Emai 001 212 (h) (Verbier) JU Ireland (h) London Calvo-Platero, Mario/Ariadne New York, NY : @aol.com (MW)

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Top Comments

Revic
Revic

It's very nice of them to introduce a completely different verification method instead of just restoring the one they had. Should give the scammers at least a couple months to prey on people who don't yet know that "this account belongs to who it appears to" is now indicated by something else entirely and no longer meant by the existing checkmark. That kind of consideration for scammers' business model is the human touch so many companies miss.

+10
Nico
Nico

in reply to Sunsoft Bass

Did you seriously just copy and paste your response on the "Block The Blue" thread just so you can get brownie points here?

Also wtf kind of message are we trying to send? This is the most milktoast shit I have seen, all that has changed with twitter after Musk's purchase is that it went from being annoyingly left-wing to annoyingly right-wing.

+6

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