Written By In the world of social media, Twitter’s blue check marks have become a polarizing symbol of influence and status. With the power to grant or deny verification, Twitter has created a hierarchy among its users, with verified accounts seen as more trustworthy and important than unverified ones. And no one has embodied the controversy and influence of Twitter’s blue check marks more than Elon Musk.
Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind companies like Tesla and SpaceX, has made waves on Twitter for his controversial tweets and use of the platform to promote his businesses. But his influence on Twitter goes beyond just his own account. Musk has become a symbol of the power of Twitter’s blue check marks, as he has used his verified status to elevate the profiles of others and spark conversations about who deserves to be verified and why.
The blue check mark was originally created by Twitter to verify the identities of high-profile accounts, such as celebrities, politicians, and journalists. Over time, however, the meaning of the check mark has evolved. Today, having a verified account is seen as a mark of credibility and authority, and many users aspire to achieve this status.
But the process of obtaining a blue check mark has been criticized as opaque and arbitrary. Twitter’s guidelines state that an account must be “complete and active” and have “a confirmed email address and phone number” to be considered for verification. However, the decision to grant verification is ultimately up to Twitter, and the criteria for determining which accounts are worthy of verification are not always clear.
This lack of transparency has led to accusations of favoritism and bias. In 2017, Twitter faced backlash after verifying the account of white supremacist Jason Kessler, who organized the infamous Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The controversy prompted Twitter to temporarily pause its verification program and create new guidelines for determining eligibility.
Despite these changes, the process of obtaining a blue check mark remains a contentious issue on Twitter. And no one has stoked the flames of this debate more than Elon Musk. In 2018, Musk made headlines when he tweeted that he was “going to buy The Onion and make it a real news outlet” and followed up with a tweet suggesting that the satirical news site should be verified.
This tweet sparked a conversation about the criteria for verification and who deserved to be verified. Some argued that The Onion, as a well-known media outlet, should already be verified, while others pointed out that verification should be reserved for individuals, not organizations.
Musk continued to use his verified status to elevate the profiles of others, often in unexpected ways. In 2020, he tweeted his support for a proposal to rename Fort Bragg, a military base in North Carolina, after Confederate General Braxton Bragg. The tweet was widely criticized for its insensitivity and historical ignorance, but it also drew attention to the Twitter account of a user named “Fortnite Status.”
The account, which provides updates on the popular video game Fortnite, had been struggling to gain followers before Musk’s tweet. But after Musk retweeted the account, it gained thousands of new followers and became a trending topic on Twitter.
This incident highlighted the power of Twitter’s blue check marks to boost the visibility and influence of other users. But it also raised questions about whether Musk was using his influence responsibly. Critics argued that Musk was using his verified status to elevate a relatively insignificant account while ignoring more pressing issues.
As Elon Musk’s tenure at the top of Twitter’s hierarchy comes to an end, his legacy as a polarizing figure in the world of blue check marks is sure to endure. Musk’s use of his verified status to elevate the profiles of others has sparked important conversations about the criteria for verification and who deserves to be considered credible
