Celebs, Media, Dems Protest New Blue Checks on X Twitter For Being "Influential"
Celebs, Media, Dems Protest New Blue Checks on X Twitter For Being "Influential"
Naomi Biden, London Breed, CNN anchors, Kevin Bacon and I got our blue checks back and a free premium account
I must admit that I was surprised and thrilled to open X/Twitter this week and see a blue check next to my name again (here.) After bemoaning to you a year ago about losing my “legacy blue check,” I regaind it when Elon Musk announced he was giving a free premium account to anyone with more than 2,500 verified followers.
However, this gift wasn't uniformly welcomed on the Left, as the blue check has become a symbol of supporting conservatives and Musk.
The Famous and “Influential”
I poured through a database of 5,000 names (link below for paid subscribers) to uncover who received a blue check this week— many against their will. Normally a subscription costs between $8 and $11 a month.
Among those newly verified are San Francisco Mayor London Breed, President Biden's granddaughter Naomi Biden, and the Biden-Harris campaign account @BidenHQ.
Celebrities forced into blue chek status include Morgan Freeman, Drew Barrymore, Scottie Pippen, Willie Nelson, Sacha Baron Cohen, Billy Crystal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jessica Biel, Carrie Fischer, Kevin Bacon and Howie Mandel.
Several left-wing media outlets and reporters were suddenly verified, including The Boston Globe, Bob Woodward, The New York Daily News, Maureen Dowd of The New York Times, Chris Matthews, The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin, CNN’s Dana Bash, Kate Bolduan and Erin Burnett.
Former politicians like gun-control advocate Gabby Giffords and MSNBC contributor Michael Steele were also verified. Democratic strategist James Carville also found a blue check next to his name.
Vaccine promoter Prof Peter Hotez MD expressed surprise when he noticed his account changed.
Liberal Protest
Claire McCaskill, the former Democrat Senator and current MSNBC analyst, wanted it removed from her account because it “means you pay Elon.”
Rapper Lil Nas X posted: “on my soul i didn’t pay for twitter blue, u will feel my wrath tesla man!”
“The Wire” creator David Simon posted a series of profanity-laced tweets about being verified. Musk replied to one of them, saying “Such ingrates” with a laughing emoji.
Simon and “Star Trek” actress Jeri Ryan found there is a setting to hide the blue check while retaining the premium benefits.
Media Protest
Some reporters exposed their bias through outrage about the blue check.
The Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson posted: “...this platform has given me a blue checkmark that I DID NOT ASK OR PAY FOR. Wha'?”
“The Atlantic” writer Tom Nichol, who has “legacy blue check” in his bio, critized the move, stating it was done “to obscure the difference between sensible folks and people who will pay eight dollars to Elon Musk.”
Reporter Aaron Rupar got his blue check back this week and posted to his almost 900,000 followers: “My wife just offered me condolences on my new blue check.”
Twitter’s Power
Although only about 20% of Americans are on X/Twitter, it weilds considerable influence. I’d say it’s the most effective way to follow and reach elected officials and the media directly.
Musk's changes aimed to foster more free speech and amplify conservative voices compared to the other major social media platforms.
In response, former Twitter CEO and Facebook started alternatives to X such as Blue Sky and Threads. Many reporters went to those sites, but I’ve noticed they come back to Twitter when they have breaking news.
The only major politicians who doesn’t use X is former President Donald Trump who uses Truth Social, his social media company that he just sold for billions.