Since its inception, Twitter has taken pleasure in providing a platform where users can get accurate and trustworthy information.
The verified checkmark is one of many techniques Twitter has long used to make sure users can only follow reliable accounts. The verified check mark has been widely recognised on the platform as an indication of reliability and authenticity.
The implementation of paid verification on Twitter, however, has severely damaged the platform’s reputation and encouraged a wave of impersonation that poses a threat to the ecosystem as a whole.
Twitter’s decision to remove heritage verified check marks, along with a lack of clarity on the verification procedure, has created a void that has been filled by opportunists attempting to capitalise on the situation. With the advent of paid verification, anyone can claim to be someone else as long as they have the money to pay for it. This has resulted in a loss of confidence and authenticity on the site, as users are unsure whether the accounts with which they communicate are legitimate or not.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that restoring legacy checks for users with more over 1 million followers conveys the wrong impression. It implies that only individuals with a huge following are worth verifying, reinforcing the notion that verification is a commodity that can be bought and sold. As a result, the platform’s credibility is eroding.
Twitter should take a step back and reconsider its approach to verification. The platform should adopt a more stringent and transparent verification process that is available to all users, regardless of their number of followers or financial resources. Twitter could also think about creating an automatic verification system that can validate accounts based on a set of predetermined criteria, such as a user’s identity, legitimacy, and the content they post.
The introduction of paid verification on Twitter has been a disaster, and it is imperative that the platform addresses this issue immediately. Twitter needs to regain users’ trust and re-establish the verified check mark as a symbol of legitimacy and trustworthiness. Failure to do so will continue to erode the platform’s credibility, and the apocalypse on Twitter will only get worse.