Twitter's paid identification system, commonly referred to as "blue verification," has been controversial since its inception. The system aims to verify the identity of Twitter users to distinguish them from impersonators, bots, and other malicious accounts.

When rolling out the subscription service, CEO Musk removed blue checkmarks from previously verified users, and made them available to anyone willing to pay. By doing so, he dampened their value. Verification is now less exclusive, credible and less desirable. This is driving away brands and celebrities. However, there are several reasons why this system has been criticized:

1. It could create a two-tier system: The paid identification system could create a two-tier system where verified users are seen as more important or legitimate than non-verified users. This could lead to further divisions and inequalities on the platform.

2. It could be expensive: The paid identification system could be costly for many users, especially those who are not financially stable. This could prevent them from getting verified, which could harm their ability to gain influence on the platform by not being allowed into the general feed.

3. It could be easily abused: The paid identification system could be easily abused by bad actors who are willing to pay to get verified. This could make it harder to distinguish legitimate verified accounts from fake ones.

4. It could be a distraction from more significant issues: The paid identification system could distract from more significant issues on the platform, such as harassment, hate speech, and misinformation. Instead of focusing on these issues, Twitter could prioritize paid identification, which may not be as important to users.

Overall, while the paid identification system may have some benefits, such as helping to verify the identity of public figures and preventing impersonation, it has several potential drawbacks that make it a bad idea. Twitter had it right for awhile, but now everyone is looking elsewhere. Jack Dorsey has a new approach with his platform that is in beta currently. Bluesky is social done right.

MediaSlam is a podcast and publication of CurtDoty.co that discusses the intersection of design, content and technology. Follow Curt Doty on LinkedIn and Follow MediaSlam on Clubhouse. To learn more, go to www.curtdoty.co/mediaslam

Verification Bust

Twitter's paid identification system, commonly referred to as "blue verification," has been controversial since its inception. The system aims to verify the identity of Twitter users to distinguish them from impersonators, bots, and other malicious accounts.

See More Work