via Imago
May 30, 2020, Kennedy Space Center, FL, United States of America: Elon Musk, CEO and lead designer, SpaceX, participates in a post launch news conference for the NASA SpaceX Crew Demo-2 mission at Kennedy Space Center, May 30, 2020, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Kennedy Space Center United States of America – ZUMAp138 20200530_zaa_p138_136 Copyright: xKimxShiflett/Nasax
via Imago
May 30, 2020, Kennedy Space Center, FL, United States of America: Elon Musk, CEO and lead designer, SpaceX, participates in a post launch news conference for the NASA SpaceX Crew Demo-2 mission at Kennedy Space Center, May 30, 2020, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Kennedy Space Center United States of America – ZUMAp138 20200530_zaa_p138_136 Copyright: xKimxShiflett/Nasax
Elon Musk taking over Twitter was possibly the most-talked-about business deal of last year. From management to the features of the platform, he has introduced drastic changes to the bluebird platform. However, the most-questionable one was his turning the iconic verification blue tick to a premium subscription.
From the White House to the “NBA King” LeBron James, many people have been against the blue tick subscription. But that doesn’t mean there is no one supporting this move by Elon Musk. The Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney is on the Twitter owner’s side.
Elon Musk praised Epic Games founder for thinking about blue tick subscription before him
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The eccentric businessman Elon Musk recently praised Tim Sweeney for coming up with the blue tick subscription even before he took over the bluebird. In 2020, the Epic Games founder and CEO tweeted about not wanting to be verified on the platform. He reasoned that Twitter’s previous policies favored “friends of Twitter” to get verified on the platform.
Credit to Tim Sweeney for realizing this before me https://t.co/92LUkaOEFz
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 2, 2023
After criticizing the old Twitter policies two years ago, Sweeney now praised the new changes. For those who don’t know, Twitter previously mentioned which account is legacy verified or has the $8 subscription. But now it no longer specifies how the account got the blue tick.
Twitter only verifying elites and friends of Twitter employees was wrong. Democratizing verification for $8 was good. Treating everyone the same is principled. What kind of company sells a product but gives it to elites for free? That's just weird thing to do. https://t.co/KSRItcc26l
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) April 2, 2023
Sweeney once again stated that the previous verification system favored only the “elites and friends of Twitter employees“. However, he believes the $8 subscription is the right way forward for Twitter, as it treats everyone equally.
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The Epic Games CEO went on to say that he would prefer a system that does not artificially boost or de-boost any Twitter account unless it detects spam or fraud. He also said that Twitter’s former method created a biased environment where elites received preferential treatment.
How did other Twitter users think about Sweeney’s claims?
While Elon Musk must be impressed with Tim Sweeney for supporting the changes he introduced on Twitter, the majority of users don’t have the same opinion. The blue tick was like a badge of honor for many, as it signified the genuineness of the account. They claimed that the new method ruins the reason for the blue tick existing on the platform in the first place.
How does 'opened up for everyone' equal a paid option exactly?
Opened to pay, yes.
— Anne Fleur Dekker (@annefleurdd) April 2, 2023
I applied through the application back in 2021. I did not know any Twitter employees or had any contact.
I submitted my work and received it. It was a good system but required improvements.
— Ben (@videotech_) April 3, 2023
I am neither an elite or a friend of Twitter employees.
I was verified because people were trying to impersonate me to take advantage of autistic families. I had to provide ID, documentation, links to recent and notable articles. It was actual PROOF of who I am.
$8 is not.— Stuart Duncan (@autismfather) April 3, 2023
Anybody who isn't a rich loser or a nameless one?
Charging for distinction makes it valueless, and easier to fake.
— Jeffrey Phillips (@11thJeff) April 3, 2023
It was simply to help stop impersonation of notable people/organizations which isn't elitist? There was no preferential treatment, the biggest tweets literally everyday come from unverified accounts. Conflating verification with clout is a fundamental misread.
— Stephen Ford (@StephenSeanFord) April 3, 2023
Verification isn't a product, user-contributed content is. People use twitter to hear from prominent voices in business, entertainment, government etc. Verifying those accounts helped facilitate ad-revenue earning engagement. Changing to a sub-badge serves no purpose for users.
— CaptainSauce (@TheCaptainSauce) April 3, 2023
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Twitter should have separated out and widened to all optional verification (which should always have been free) and a paid ‘pro’ tier. Conflating the two is the problem, not perceived elitism.
— Craig Grannell (@CraigGrannell) April 3, 2023
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What are your thoughts about the new policies of Twitter by Elon Musk? Do you agree with what Tim Sweeney has to say? Let us know in the comments below.
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