Twitter chose April 1, April Fool's Day, to begin removing legacy blue checkmarks from user accounts.
The move comes as the social media platform continues its push toward a verification model based on paid subscriptions.
Twitter owner and CEO Elon Musk tweeted in December that he planned to strip user accounts of blue verification checkmarks that predate his acquisition of the company.
- He said that the way in which they were handed out before he took over Twitter "was corrupt and nonsensical."
- After the tweet, users who clicked "legacy" checkmarks saw the message "This is a legacy verified account. It may or may not be notable.”
- Twitter has touted its new subscription-based blue verification mark as a superior system.
- Musk said those who pay for the verification service, priced at $8 per month for U.S. users, will see fewer ads, be given the ability to edit tweets, and receive higher priority in searches and replies.
Zoom Out:
- Musk began restructuring Twitter after acquiring the company for $44B on Oct. 27.
- He has said that one of his ambitions for Twitter is to widen the scope of content allowed on the platform while preventing it from turning into a "free-for-all hellscape."
