Twitter suspends $8 checkmark sign-ups amid trolling wave: Report

• Platformer’s managing Editor reported that Twitter has suspended Blue, citing an internal note.
• After launching this week, some verified account started to impersonate famous people and companies.
• iOS Twitter users noticed early Friday that Twitter Blue sign-ups weren’t available on the app.

Twitter is suspending the rollout of its Twitter Blue subscription service as it seeks to “address impersonation issues,” Zoë Schiffer, managing editor of tech newsletter Platformer, reported on Friday, citing an internal note.

Twitter Blue, the social media company, launched its revamped version earlier this week. Anyone with a debit card that costs $8 can get a blue checkmark and a verified account. However, some verified users quickly started making accountsImpersonating celebrities or companies can lead to confusion and multiple attempts to troll other users on the platform and spread misinformation.

Schiffer tweeted, “Twitter has suspended Twitter Blue’s launch and is actively trying stop people from subscribing to ‘help address impersonation problems.

—Zoë Schiffer (@ZoeSchiffer) November 11, 2022

The internal note was posted to Slack by the company. Schiffer said“An update about what we did tonight: hid Twitter Blue’s entry point, added the official label for only advertisers, Blue users have at least one option to sign up. Legacy Blue customers can upgrade to subscriptions.

Schiffer reported that Twitter’s note stated that existing subscribers would be able to sign up for the service. still be able to accessTwitter Blue features, and this the company disabledYou can purchase Twitter Blue on iOS.

Twitter users claimed that Twitter Blue was available for sign-up early Friday. no longer availableOn the iOS app. Users who had not yet subscribed received an error message saying, “Thanks for your interest!” Twitter Blue will be available for you in the future. Please check back later.” The Verge reported.

Jane Manchun Wong, security researcher tweeted at 1:53AMFriday morning: Twitter Blue, a social media app, “seems not to have been launched” 

She tweeted, “Checked with Twitter API and the in app purchase for Twitter Blue Verified has not been listed for production.”

Wong tweeted a response from an account who said that the tweet was unlaunched explains why they lostTheir blue checkmark despite them having subscribed to Twitter Blue.

—Carter (@CarterKoWang) November 11, 2022

Twitter Blue Blue Checkmarks were distinguished fromBlue checkmarks for prominent users are available, but Musk previously stated that all verified users would need to subscribe in order to keep their checkmark. Twitter Blue launched shortly after Twitter Blue. added “official” badgesto certain accounts before they are removed.

Elon Musk stated in a Twitter Space meeting with advertisers that he “killed”These are them because they were“Aesthetic nightmare” was created and a “two-class system.” However, they’re appearing on some accounts again.

Musk stated in Twitter Space that users should be made pay $8 for a blue checkmarkIt was “important” and “necessary to deal with bots on the platform. He stated that Twitter would “vigorously pursue accounts involved in impersonation or deception” and would suspend such accounts.