We all know that Elon Musk has offically taken over Twitter as it’s newest Overlord. Are we happy about this? Not all of us! Elon’s been instituting a few new rules for the platform, his attempt at classing up the joint as it were. Unfortunately for him, the rest of the world thinks he’s on one. His latest stunt is charging for the blue check (verify badge) on Twitter. Our King of Horror, Stephen King, has gracefully spoken on behalf of the people.
Stephen King is definitely a good source of entertianment. He single handedly has over 7,300 Tweets and a good majority (the entertaining majority, at least) of those Tweets are just tearing ridiculous takes to shreds. His latest victim? Elon Musk and his horrific blue tick policy.
$20 a month to keep my blue check? Fuck that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 31, 2022
King tweets: “$20 a month to keep my blue check? Fuck that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.”
And the Electric Boogalo replied in kind to the King saying: “We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?”
We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
Of course, this seems like a silly argument. Stephen King, who’s net worth is well over $600 million, is arguing with the Space Man, who’s own net worth is 209.1 billion. If Elon really wanted to, I’m sure that he could entirely fund Twitter out of his own pocket (this is based on the absolutely no knowledge that I have of the subject or how much it takes to run Twitter). The man is a billionaire, yes ‘B.’
Elon went on to make his own post about the latest policy update, officially confirming that he was only going to charge a measly $8 for the verified badge on the site. He states that this is a way for Twitter to gain a “revenue stream to reward content creators”.
Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.
The thing is that Stephen King isn’t the only one who’s irked by Elon’s latest announcement. And some accounts are making incredibly valid points on the subject. Katie Mack, author of End of Everything Book tweets that the intention behind the verified check on Twitter isn’t a status symbol, it’s a way for individuals and organizations to “verify their statements are coming from them.”
The point of Twitter verification is that for certain individuals/organizations it’s useful to be able to verify their statements are coming from them. (This is why so many journalists/reporters are verified.) It’s supposed to help combat disinformation, not be a status symbol.
— Katie Mack (@AstroKatie) October 31, 2022
Bestselling children’s author, Matt Walsh tweets that despite charging for the blue checks, there needs to be a system in place for accounts that get frequently impersonated. He even goes on to suggest, “I like the idea of a blue check for actual public figures…and a different color for other verified accounts.”
I agree but there still should be a verification system for people who are frequently impersonated by fake accounts. I like the idea of a blue check for actual public figures (not obscure media people with 600 followers) and a different color for other verified accounts.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) November 1, 2022
Author Dr. Brandy Schillace even compared the new concept to a Dr. Seuss book! She reminds Twitter, “If you have to *pay* for the blue check, it nullifies it’s utility as an earned verification/credential.”
Ironically, if you have to *pay* for the blue check, it nullifies it’s utility as an earned verification/credential. So NOT having one will begin to serve as a better indication of cred than having one. Which reminds me of a story… pic.twitter.com/6LNNdcUUNu
— Dr. Brandy Schillace (@bschillace) October 31, 2022
Currently, Elon has changed his Twitter bio to state that he’s the Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator.
Do we agree that the old verification system of “lords & peasants” was effective or conducive to society? No, it wasn’t and change is good! But this doesn’t seem wholly thought out in the long run.
Check back here for more author tweets! And for more bookish content from us at Bookstr, click here!