Twitter’s New ‘Official’ Labeling System
The ‘official’ label on Twitter isn’t available to all accounts, but the new system will give some of the most popular and influential accounts this label. The first big verified accounts to get these labels were celebrities and high-profile media organizations, and now other big accounts are getting the same label. The goal is to improve trust among users and make sure they are getting accurate information from accounts associated with certain brands, news organizations, and celebrities.
Twitter Delays General Public Access to Grey Checkmark Feature, Restricting it to Big Verified Accounts Only
The grey checkmark will not be available to the general public, however, and will only be available to big verified accounts. Twitter says it will only implement the feature on November 9 due to concerns about possible misinformation during the midterm elections and impersonation of official accounts. The announcement comes just a week after the social media site laid off half of its workforce. Some of those who were laid off are still working at the company.
Twitter’s Enhanced Verification System Raises the Bar, Posing Challenges in Spotting Fake Accounts, as Subscription Model Aims to Boost Security
Twitter’s current system already imposes strict rules to identify verified accounts. This means that any big verified account will be subject to scrutiny. The new policy will make it harder for users to spot fake accounts. Twitter currently does not charge for this feature, but a monthly subscription will allow the service to improve security.
Twitter’s current verification system was introduced in 2009 in an effort to ensure that big-profile accounts were genuine. However, it has received criticism from experts that allowing anyone to pay for a “checkmark” could encourage impersonation and the spread of misinformation and scams. The grey checkmark is a compromise, but many people are concerned that the new system could only add more confusion and inaccuracies.
Twitter’s new grey mark will replace its blue verified badge. The badge will only be visible to paid subscribers of the Twitter Blue service. It will also give paid subscribers the opportunity to have a nearly ad-free experience and see mentions more prominently. Before, only social media influencers were awarded the blue verified badge, and many of those accounts were suspended.
Balancing Disinformation Defense
The new scheme is intended to keep disinformation from influencing users’ decisions. However, some people may not feel comfortable paying for this feature. Musk is also in the midst of firing thousands of employees, many of whom were involved in fighting misinformation on Twitter. The new policy would allow verified users to enjoy certain benefits, including a grey mark, which would give them priority in mentions and replies. Furthermore, paid users would also be able to view longer videos and receive fewer ads.
The new scheme will also make it easier for Twitter to monitor people who are paying to spread misinformation on Twitter. This means that the people who pay to spread misinformation will become even more powerful amplifiers of these harmful lies.