Twitter blue tick kicks off, verification sale spawns fake news tweets

Elon Musk's Twitter dropped its new pay-for-play verification checkmark on November 9.

[{"selector":"#anim-6fd5a4be-155f-42d3-8c1f-d815eb871bc1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

It is reportedly a huge boon for the fake news industry.

[{"selector":"#anim-18a6535c-70cd-461d-b4d0-a663fc4978e2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The new Twitter Blue subscription costs $8 per month.

[{"selector":"#anim-63d9fe26-26d2-49f1-8797-a1bc1581df8e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The blue check is nearly identical to those of celebrities or journalists.

[{"selector":"#anim-6a6ce13b-4a3e-4f18-b393-d380cca36d5a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The only difference is, if you click the badge, it tells you if it was given to a notable person or if it was paid.

[{"selector":"#anim-dc8c8519-572d-43fc-9e18-72a5d57f03d0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(18.039486807697667%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

However, almost immediately, people started posting fake news and the sports world was especially affected.

[{"selector":"#anim-334dd59f-045d-41a0-a05d-c7ff20686339 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The most common ploy was to create rumors about a player leaving their team.

[{"selector":"#anim-4f6be0d9-90c2-44b9-bf22-cb8dc2405c1c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.830698579392855%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

A fake LeBron James demanded a trade from the Lakers and said Adam Schefter, the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach, was fired.

[{"selector":"#anim-fbba1937-3382-46ee-bff4-08d98b5c6fbf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.699938156712708%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Over time, some or most of the accounts were suspended, but not before many saw the posts.

[{"selector":"#anim-be110245-88e3-4000-a316-676a2976adde [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

If the blue check is up for sale, then it signals nothing about trustworthiness, it just shows what you have access to for $8.

[{"selector":"#anim-73d3c1e8-1064-42c7-8e2b-3799ee684221 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(47.343578564441934%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Be careful out there and double-check before you retweet something.

[{"selector":"#anim-d7306810-39aa-4df4-8772-cc9a18e6650c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Twitter blue tick kicks off, verification sale spawns fake news tweets

Twitter blue tick kicks off, verification sale spawns fake news tweets

Elon Musk's Twitter dropped its new pay-for-play verification checkmark on November 9.

Elon Musk's Twitter dropped its new pay-for-play verification checkmark on November 9.

It is reportedly a huge boon for the fake news industry.

It is reportedly a huge boon for the fake news industry.

The new Twitter Blue subscription costs $8 per month.

The new Twitter Blue subscription costs $8 per month.

The blue check is nearly identical to those of celebrities or journalists.

The blue check is nearly identical to those of celebrities or journalists.

The only difference is, if you click the badge, it tells you if it was given to a notable person or if it was paid.

The only difference is, if you click the badge, it tells you if it was given to a notable person or if it was paid.

However, almost immediately, people started posting fake news and the sports world was especially affected.

However, almost immediately, people started posting fake news and the sports world was especially affected.

The most common ploy was to create rumors about a player leaving their team.

The most common ploy was to create rumors about a player leaving their team.

A fake LeBron James demanded a trade from the Lakers and said Adam Schefter, the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach, was fired.

A fake LeBron James demanded a trade from the Lakers and said Adam Schefter, the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach, was fired.

Over time, some or most of the accounts were suspended, but not before many saw the posts.

Over time, some or most of the accounts were suspended, but not before many saw the posts.

If the blue check is up for sale, then it signals nothing about trustworthiness, it just shows what you have access to for $8.

If the blue check is up for sale, then it signals nothing about trustworthiness, it just shows what you have access to for $8.

Be careful out there and double-check before you retweet something.

Be careful out there and double-check before you retweet something.

Download now