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No one answered my question last week, probably in part due to my posting it a full day after the OP's top-level comment, so I thought I'd post it again here. I'm really interested in the answer, if someone could steelman the new blue checkmark strategy and mechanics for me.
I still don't understand, what is the point of the blue checkmark in new Twitter? When I first heard about the $8 charge I thought it'd be a good idea. I thought it'd be a way for anyone to pay $8 for the service Twitter will perform to verify that you are who you say you are. I thought basically, you'd pay the $8, Twitter would assign someone to review your credentials, then you'd get the checkmark. This seemed like an improvement over the previous process because anyone could request a checkmark review as part of an after upon process, and you're also helping to fund the work it will take to do it
Now I see on Twitter's site, it says explicitly:
If the point of verification and checkmarks are to prove that you are who you say you are, and now that verification process and proof no longer will happen, then what's the point? To prove that you have $8 to spend? Are people supposed to believe that accounts that get the new blue checkmark are authentic, when no verification actually happened? It's so confusing.
Please correct me if any aspect of my understanding is incorrect. If the new system really does make sense, I'd be glad and would like to know why. Could anyone steelman it? As it stands it seems just like an attempt to have a one time cash-in on a new mechanism that's going to ultimately destroy the credibility of the blue check system entirely.
One of the new blue checkmarks might be an indication someone is not a Bot. It shows an investment in the community. Right now it's mostly used to troll people who think that a blue checkmark is a sign of authenticity, accuracy, and truthiness. But over time it could develop into something useful.
Or Musk is trying to bankrupt Twitter, has no idea what he's doing, or any of the above.
As a note, Tumblr is now selling not one, but two blue checkmarks for $7.99. They also stack, so there are some people running around with 28 checkmarks. Everyone on Tumbr thinks this is a grand idea, regardless of what utility they might get out of it. Why purchase a blue checkmark? Because it's amusing.
It made for great trolling ,but predictably it led to people impersonating companies and major public political figures, which went beyond comedy to actual economic and financial implications. It sucks that people abused it but not surprising either.
People trading based off of Twitter screenshots deserve everything they get.
These were bots trading based on twitter sentiment. Lmao.
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