The Blue Check Shame: How Twitter’s Verification Badge Became a Symbol of Contempt
The unravelling of Twitter’s blue checkmark status symbol
Once upon a time in the Twitterverse, the blue checkmark nestled next to a user’s name was a beacon of recognition and credibility, bestowing upon them the coveted status of a verified account. But in recent months, and certainly in the past few days, a startling transformation has befallen this once-admired symbol. The blue checkmark has morphed into a scarlet letter of shame and ridicule, adorning the digital profiles of those perceived as out-of-touch elites, undeserving charlatans, or even nefarious harassers.
How did the winds of public opinion shift so dramatically, leaving the once-glorious blue check in tatters? And what might this metamorphosis mean for the future of Twitter and the ever-evolving landscape of social media?
I was damn keen to find out.
The origin and evolution of the blue check
Twitter unveiled the blue checkmark back in 2009 with the mission of tackling impersonation and identity theft on its platform. At first, only the who’s who of public figures and organizations — think celebrities, politicians, journalists, and sports teams — flaunted verified…
