Musk Blows Up Latest ‘Official’ Twitter Verification Badge Scheme In Mere Hours
As the sun rose on Twitter this morning, many users found new “Official” verification badges, which had just been announced yesterday, attached to their accounts. (Kotaku notably did not; what did we do to upset you, Elon?) But before anyone could even enjoy their first lunch as double-verified elites, the badges disappeared. Twitter’s new approach to verification lasted just a few hours before Elon Musk killed it.
The “Official” verification label was announced just yesterday, November 8 by Twitter Director of Product Management Esther Crawford as a solution to the problem posed by the changes to the Twitter Blue subscription service. Since the new Twitter Blue will give blue checks to anyone who pays $8 a month, Twitter needed a way to identify public figures, government officials, and corporations.
Enter “Official” verification. Today’s new label—a gray version of the traditional blue checkmark accompanied by the word “Official”—was meant to distinguish the official accounts of “verified” users from Twitter Blue subscribers. “Not all previously verified accounts will get the ‘Official’ label and the label is not available for purchase. Accounts that will receive it include government accounts, commercial companies, business partners, major media outlets, publishers and some public figures,” wrote Crawford.
Read More: Elon Musk Seems To Be Turning Twitter Into The Worst Pay-To-Win Game
However, this morning it quickly became clear that Twitter’s method for anointing accounts as “Official” was somewhat random, or perhaps even reflective of Musk’s personal vendettas. Screenshots show that Kanye West, the man responsible for a litany of anti-Semitic diatribes, was officially verified, as was magical transphobe J.K. Rowling. But former Democratic nominee for President Hillary Clinton did not get the new verification. Neither did famed horror writer Stephen King, who famously tweeted “fuck that” last week amid rumors that retaining a blue check would cost $20. Yet the late, great Anthony Bourdain, who has been dead for over four years, did get the elusive label.
As pointed out by Forbes’ Paul Tassi, Destiny 2 developer Bungie was not given an official verification, but Destiny 2 the game was. Actor and gamer Felicia Day, streamer Hasan Piker, and Karnage clan member Drift0r all got the hookup, while many game journalists (myself included) did not. Outlets like GameSpot, Polygon, IGN, and GamesRadar had official verified status bestowed upon them, but Kotaku, as I mentioned, was snubbed.
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/131327
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/131458
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/132781
https://vk.com/@tigerbawong-black-panther-wakanda-forever-2022-hd-sub-thai
https://vk.com/@ucigamomoy-black-panther-wakanda-forever-hd
https://vk.com/@gadangpantul-black-panther-wakanda-forever-2022-hd
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/132064
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/133100
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/133105
https://vk.com/@padmigundul-2-2022-hd-1080p-tw
https://vk.com/@paulinkunt-black-panther-wakanda-2022
https://vk.com/@mawardewi0-black-panther-2022-1080p
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/132369
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/131808
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/131813
https://paiza.io/projects/ksMGx75E_qe-ERhe257yzA
https://pastelink.net/t71zrm5x
https://www.onfeetnation.com/photo/albums/sghedryh
https://pasteio.com/x7pqfEdjTG5D
https://issuu.com/lilleylucy104
https://tech.io/snippet/ABzk3K4
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/e0356a47
https://yamcode.com/89m6953cvd
https://backlinktool.io/p/vMXFJJhwklQ5YBoZ8IPY.html
https://webhitlist.com/photo/albums/dthrftyhrth
http://zacriley.ning.com/photo/albums/sdghdhjdf
http://ben-kiki.org/ypaste/data/60039/index.html
https://peacepink.ning.com/photo/fqryscjagaecxmo
https://jsfiddle.net/9btnsxrd/
https://muckrack.com/lilley-lucy104/bio
http://playit4ward-sanantonio.ning.com/photo/albums/hrtfurty
https://dotnetfiddle.net/k5Mbu2
https://backlinktool.io/p/mnTrgPSPJWRMV9Z3D24M.html
https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/f1296cd6-d702-4585-9b83-7787a0d015d3
https://paste.toolforge.org/view/c99d437c
http://allabouturanch.com/photo/albums/dfhftijtyfgu
https://caribbeanfever.com/photo/albums/dsrghdrfghd
https://leyes.co/user/4589.htm
http://beterhbo.ning.com/photo/albums/rgyery
https://paste.cutelyst.org/XB407SEjT
https://healingxchange.ning.com/photo/albums/rdyhrth
https://www.pastery.net/dszwqz/
Read More: Comedians, Actors, And Chiptune Artists Suspended From Twitter Because Elon Musk Has No Idea What He’s Doing
Shortly after video producer Marques Brownlee shared that his official verification label had disappeared, Musk responded, saying “I just killed it,” and “Blue check will be the great leveler.” Poor Esther Crawford had to step in and clarify, promising that Twitter was actually just focusing on “government and commercial entities to begin with” and that Musk actually meant “we’re not focusing on giving individuals the ‘Official’ label right now.”
As of right now, the “Official” label seems to be completely wiped from Twitter. It’s missing from the profiles of government officials like President Joe Biden, newly elected senator John Fetterman, and even Twitter itself.
Kotaku’s reached out to Twitter for comment.
RIP Official Twitter Verification (The Gray Edition), you were gone too soon.
The G20 summit set to be held in Bali will likely affect the daily routines of local Balinese and tourists who visit the island as authorities will enact a restriction to regular flights destined for Bali.
The Ministry of Transportation has issued a Circular Letter (SE) of the Director General of Civil Aviation No.12/2022 concerning Flight Operational Arrangements during the G20 Summit at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, Antaranews reported.
The ministry appealed to the public to adjust their travel plans to Bali as restrictions on regular flights to and from Bali will be enacted from November 13 to November 17. During this period, the Ngurah Rai airport will limit operations of regular flights as they deem it as the peak arrival of world leaders.
Adita Irawati, Transportation Ministry’s spokesperson said flight operations are prioritized for VVIP flights in accordance with regulatory provisions, but on the other hand, maintaining a limited number of regular flight operational needs.
"Considering that some guests and G20 delegates will still travel with regular flights. In addition, flights to Bali will also only serve those departing from Soekarno Hatta Airport," she said.