Thread by @virtaava

@elonmusk @Twitter @TwitterBlue
First and foremost, I'd like to give props to Elon Musk for his Twitter game, I salute you for doing all the wrong things to this platform. 1/13

I am disappointed with Twitter's/Elons recent decision to revoke verified badges from users and make them pay for new ones. This is a slap in the face to the platform's users, and it will create chaos and mistrust among them. 2/13

https://twitter.com/verified/status/1639029459557679104

3/13

The move will worsen the existing issues associated with the new program, which is already facing criticism for its vague guidelines and inconsistent enforcement. 4/13

Many individuals who have already been verified under the old program will not pay for the new badge because they don't want to be associated with buying a "verified status." 5/13

Others may not want to be thought of as troll accounts, which is a common assumption for users with Twitter Blue. 6/13

Notable people who will pay for the new badge and were verified under the old program may not be taken seriously because of the perceived notion that they are troll accounts with Twitter Blue. 7/13

Additionally, individuals who choose not to pay for the new badge may be viewed as fake accounts, despite having already been verified under the old program. 8/13

What's more, it is unacceptable that not all individuals or organizations may have the financial means to pay for a monthly subscription for a verified account badge. 9/13

Charities, for instance, may need to use some part of their donations to "buy" the "badge," which means they can't use that money to help the cause. This is a truly sorrowful state of affairs, and it should not be allowed to happen. 10/13

This decision by Twitter will create further disparities in representation on the platform, with only those who can afford the subscription being verified. 11/13

This is a shameful decision by Twitter that will allow elitism and money to influence thoughts instead of authenticity. Verified badges should be a symbol of credibility and authenticity, not elitism and wealth. 12/13

#Twitter #VerifiedBadges #Disparities #SocialMedia #TrollAccounts #Elitism #Authenticity #Charities #Credibility #TwitterFail 13/13

If you are so desperate for money, why not try something like this... 14/20

Layer 1: Notable individuals - Twitter could retain the old verification process and requirements for notable individuals, as they have already proven themselves as credible sources in their respective fields. 15/20

Layer 2: Verified companies - Twitter could offer a paid verification process for for-profit companies that meet specific criteria, such as having a certain number of employees or annual revenue. 16/20

Layer 3: Personal verification - Twitter could also offer a paid personal verification process for individuals who want to verify their identity on the platform, but don't meet the requirements for Layer 1 verification. 17/20

To avoid confusion, each layer should have a distinguishable check mark or badge. This would help users understand the level of verification and credibility of each account. 18/20

By implementing this layered approach, Twitter can potentially generate revenue while still maintaining the authenticity and credibility of the verification process. 19/20

This would also help promote a more level playing field on the platform, as individuals and organizations of varying sizes and financial means would have the opportunity to verify their accounts. 20/20