Twitter CEO Elon Musk has been handing out free checkmarks like candy in recent days, after the billionaire swore to remove the “legacy” checkmarks people acquired before he bought the company in October 2022. But even though Musk is handing them out for nothing, that doesn’t mean the celebrities actually want them. Unexpectedly, many social media users have started to view the checkmark as a sign of shame.

“Friends told me my blue verified check was restored. I don’t know the reason. No money. I gave no number. @StephenKing reported same,” Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander tweeted on Saturday.

Advertisement

Alexander went on to explain that the only reason his account is still active on Twitter is so that someone doesn’t steal his name and try to impersonate him.

“My account remains so no one steals the account name. And I can tell you this madness hasn’t happened on Insta or Spoutible,” Alexander continued, referring to competing social media platforms.

Another person who was “gifted” a checkmark by Musk, horror author Stephen King, has also said he doesn’t want the blue check. King floated an idea suggesting Musk give Musk’s checkmark cost to charity that supports Ukraine and its war against Russia.

“I think Mr. Musk should give my blue check to charity. The Prytula Foundation provides life-saving services to Ukraine. It’s only $8, so perhaps Mr. Musk could add a bit more,” King tweeted on Saturday.

Advertisement

Basketball star LeBron James, who also received his “gift” checkmark “on behalf of Elon Musk,” according to the Verge, doesn’t want the gift—yet another data point for how poisonous the little digital symbol has become.

Why do these celebrities not like their “gifts”? The checkmark is associated with those who buy things purely to show off. A number of prominent neo-NaziWhite supremacists have bought blue checkmarks in order to increase their audience. This is an association no rational person would want.

Twitter had launched the verification program in order to counter impersonator account. Baseball legend Tony La Russa filed a lawsuit against the company back in 2009 over an impersonator, leading to the roll-out of Twitter’s “Verfied” program. But Twitter doesn’t actually verify anyone’s identity anymore under Musk’s leadership. Now, the checkmark only indicates that there is at least $8 available to you.

Advertisement

The cost for Twitter Blue is even more …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

Author: Aaron