Twitter has changed the language used for its blue check marks, making it harder to distinguish between verified and paid-for accounts. The platform plans to remove all “old” blue ticks handed out manually. However, reports suggest Elon Musk will keep his check mark for a few more weeks, implying payment is required. Large companies and their members can take the golden tick, costing $1,000 per month, while governments and “multilateral organisations” get a grey tick.

Twitter has adjusted the language used in the description of the blue check marks. It is now no longer clear whether it concerns an account that has been verified under the old system or whether the check is paid for.

Previously, a mouse-over explained how an account got its blue check mark. By now it always says, “This account has been verified because it subscribed to Twitter Blue, or was verified the old way.” Twitter plans to remove all ‘old’ blue ticks handed out manually, but Elon Musk would said in an already deleted tweet that they will keep their check mark for a few more weeks, ‘unless they don’t pay now’.

The change makes it more difficult to distinguish between an official account and an impersonator who pays monthly for their blue check mark. Remarkably, that is precisely why the introduction of Twitter Blue was postponed in November; Musk first wanted to make sure that Twitter can counter impersonations of large accounts.

Previously had to users prove their identity for a blue check mark. To do this, they had to show a reference to their Twitter account on an official website, proof of identity or an official email address.

Twitter’s plan was to start April 1 legacy checkmarks to remove. Reportedly, those plans have now changed and accounts with these older blue ticks have a little longer, but they should disappear in the long term.

At the individual level, there is therefore no longer a check mark that signals verification, but even for groups. Large companies and their members can take the golden tick. There is a gray tick for governments and ‘multilateral organisations’ and their members. Reportedly, the gold check costs $1,000 per month.

The new situation on the left, the old one on the right