Musk’s Twitter Verify Overhaul: Gold, Grey, and Blue—A Colourful Saga
Elon Musk’s latest move to revamp Twitter’s verified badge program just landed, and folks on the platform are already feeling the buzz. After a chaotic launch that let a flood of imposters pose as celebrities and big-name brands, Musk’s crew decided to add a splash of colour to the whole scene.
What’s the Colour‑Code?
- Gold for businesses—because they’re the ones that earn the extra spotlight.
- Grey for governments—no bright glow here, just a steady, official vibe.
- Blue for individuals—including A‑listers—who want that classic check.
Musk had a quick chat on Twitter: “Painful, but necessary,” he said, hinting that kick‑started chaos had to be tamed. He promised that each check (gilded or otherwise) will get a hand‑reviewed nod before it goes live. That way, no more random impersonations on the feed.
Why the Delay? Why the Redesign?
Originally slated for this Friday, the new system was pushed back to ensure it’s foolproof. The move comes at a time when Musk is juggling a hefty $44 billion purchase of the platform while also trying to keep advertisers on board. After the initial fiasco put Strappy $1.44 in trouble (turns out the cash‑mere gig got eliminated!), the “great leveller” concept had to be re‑thought.
What Went Wrong?
- A user pretended to be pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and bragged about free insulin. Spoiler: it bummed the stock price and forced the company to issue a public apology.
- Marketing giants like GM and United Airlines pulled their ads in shock, rattling the platform’s revenue machine.
- The verified service, which promised a monthly price of $8 (S$11), was basically paused on November 11—all due to a surge in fake accounts.
What’s Next for Verifiers?
Besides the classic blue check, the new $8-per‑month deal allows users whose accounts are verified to display a smaller “log‑in‑logo” for their organisations. Musk hinted, “Longer explanation next week,” so hold tight.
In short, Twitter’s bent-city of bots might finally get a clean-up crew. The platform’s user growth is at an all-time high, even with these hiccups, and Elon’s promise of a more reliable verification system could bring in the ad revenue he’s craving. Whether this makeover will win back advertisers or simply paint a colourful patch on the “social” canvas remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the day of the blue‑check ordeal may finally be over.
