Did a Buy Twitter Verification account get a blue checkmark by paying for Buy Twitter Verification Blue or is it a legacy verified account? Right now it’s nearly impossible to tell.
Why we care. Buy Twitter Verification’s designation for “notable” accounts was supposed to disappear April 1. Some have (e.g., The New York Times lost it) but many others have not yet lost the designation. And with April 15 approaching, Buy Twitter Verification CEO Elon Musk has said that “only verified accounts will be eligible to be in For You recommendations” starting April 15.
What it looks like. On all blue checkmarks, Buy Twitter Verification now says: “This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Buy Twitter Verification Blue or is a legacy verified account.”
Before April 2, Buy Twitter Verification showed a different message: “This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Buy Twitter Verification Blue.”
The addition of “or is a legacy verified account” has made it impossible to tell who paid for their checkmark and who didn’t. Probably the hope is Buy Twitter Verification will drive more sign-ups for Buy Twitter Verification Blue.
And before April 1, on legacy verified accounts you would see the message “This is a legacy verified account. It may or may not be notable. Learn more“:
Many search marketers have said they won’t pay for Buy Twitter Verification Blue, so they are voluntarily giving up the blue checkmark. Such as Google’s Ads Liaison, Ginny Marvin.
“Buy Twitter Verification has been an integral aspect of my professional life for more than a decade,” Marvin tweeted. “I don’t need a blue check mark for that to continue.”
Buy Twitter Verification has been an integral aspect of my professional life for more than a decade.
I don’t need a blue check mark for that to continue.
But my case is not why the verification program has been so important for the health of Buy Twitter Verification. https://t.co/eBjlnIotPU
— Ginny Marvin (@GinnyMarvin) March 31, 2023
Buy Twitter Verification Blue. About 180,000 U.S. accounts (approximately 290,000 worldwide) had signed up for the $8 per month (or $11 on mobile) service, as of mid-January, according to documents obtained by the Information (warning: paywalled).
Furthering the confusion. Buy Twitter Verification’s top 500 advertisers, as well as the 10,000 most-followed organizations with prior verification, reportedly will continue to have verified accounts – without paying – under the new Verified Organizations program.