As Twitter continues to evolve under Elon Musk’s leadership, the social network has introduced several changes to its verification system. Gone are the days of a single blue checkmark; now, you’ll find multicolored checkmarks indicating different types of accounts. To help you navigate this new landscape, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to Twitter’s checkmarks and badges.
Blue Checkmark: A Legacy Verification
The classic blue checkmark has been around for years, but it currently holds two meanings:
1. Legacy Verified Accounts
These are accounts that were verified prior to Musk’s era, typically representing notable individuals such as politicians, celebrities, or activists. This verification process was used to confirm the identity of these influential figures. However, Elon Musk has announced that the legacy checkmark will be phased out in a few months.
2. Subscription Status
The blue checkmark can also indicate that an account holder has subscribed to Twitter Blue, the platform’s paid subscription service. To determine which meaning applies, simply click on the blue checkmark.
Gold Checkmark: Company Affiliation
Twitter introduced the gold checkmark earlier this week as part of its "Blue for Business" plan, launched on December 19th. This new feature allows companies to highlight their official profiles with a square logo and a gold checkmark.
Company Affiliation Marks: A Square Logo
The "Blue for Business" plan also enables companies to mark affiliated brands or individuals with a square logo. For instance, Twitter employees are now identified by a square Twitter logo next to their display names. This feature helps businesses correctly identify and verify their associated accounts.
Official (Grey) Checkmark: Certification
Twitter has introduced a secondary checkmark in the form of a light grey color fill. This mark certifies certain profiles, including:
- Government entities
- Political parties
- Media houses
- Brands
- Some other public figures
This certification is intended to provide users with added confidence when interacting with these types of accounts.
Labels and Badges: Additional Information
In addition to the checkmarks, Twitter employs various labels and badges to provide context about different types of accounts. Here’s a breakdown of each:
State-Affiliated Media
Twitter applies a podium icon label to media houses that don’t have editorial independence. This means the state has financial and editorial control over these entities.
- Examples: BBC and NPR do not fall under this category.
- Twitter doesn’t amplify or recommend these accounts or their tweets.
Government Accounts
The government account label (flag icon) indicates that an account belongs to a government entity or is operated by an official. Twitter only labels accounts that are official communication channels for government personnel.
US Election Candidates
Twitter uses labels to indicate that an account is associated with a US election candidate. This helps users identify these types of accounts and provides additional context.
Other Labels and Badges
Twitter employs various other labels and badges to provide context about different types of accounts, including:
- Music-related labels
- Sports-related labels
- News-related labels
These labels and badges aim to enhance the user experience by providing relevant information about different types of accounts.
Conclusion
As Twitter continues to evolve under Elon Musk’s leadership, its verification system has undergone significant changes. The introduction of multicolored checkmarks and various labels and badges aims to provide users with more context and confidence when interacting with different types of accounts. By understanding the meaning behind these visual cues, you can better navigate Twitter and make informed decisions about the accounts you engage with.
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