Under new management at Twitter, users who want to have blue checkmarks on their accounts are required to opt into the Twitter Blue program.

In a nutshell, Twitter Blue (for $8 per month) ensures that users have blue checkmarks, the ability to edit their tweets, create longer tweets, and otherwise enjoy certain perks. This new policy change appears motivated to increase Twitter's overall profitability.

Nevertheless, before Elon Musk acquired Twitter last year, many people who already made names for themselves had blue checkmarks as legacy verified accounts. Legacy verification arrived free of charge, due to the quotas folks had to meet in order to receive these checkmarks.

These blue checkmarks are now disappearing as Twitter mandates users to opt into Twitter Blue if they want to keep their checkmarks.

The end of an era

For some time, doubts existed as to whether or not Twitter would genuinely do away with the blue checkmarks of those who've maintained platform verification for years.

However, Twitter has, in fact, removed blue checkmarks from various celebrities, established personalities, and others who enjoyed legacy verification.

So far, it's been made clear that unless these users pay Twitter $8 per month, they'll have to contend with unverified accounts, despite their notoriety.

Mass controversy

Musk's new management of checkmarks on Twitter certainly hasn't avoided dissension. Some people remain more than happy to pay a monthly fee for a blue checkmark. However, others have very different views.

Some accounts that were previously legacy verified don't believe having to now pay an ongoing fee is fair. Meanwhile, others question the value of a blue checkmark if anyone can pay for it.

Traditionally, Twitter's blue checkmarks were used to establish that a relevant person is who they say they are. Twitter, under previous management, had individuals meet a specific, strict list of criteria before receiving a blue checkmark.

Now, one need only fork over the funds each month and phone number in order to receive a blue checkmark.

Some folks have made clear their refusal to join Twitter Blue. Hence, account verification on the platform appears unlikely to carry the weight and prestige that it once did.