After an initial delay, Twitter has removed the blue checkmarks of accounts that were legacy verified and did not take out a Twitter Blue subscription. This brings an official end to the old verification system, which required accounts to be "active, notable, and authentic".

Twitter Removes Blue Ticks From Legacy Verified Accounts

Twitter originally said it would remove blue ticks from legacy verified accounts on 1 April 2023. When this did not materialize, the social media company later updated the date to 20 April 2023. This time around, Twitter kept its promise.

The blue checkmarks of notable accounts that did not subscribe to Twitter Blue have disappeared. These include accounts of major celebrities such as Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian.

Businesses unwilling to pay for the Twitter Verified Organizations subscription have also lost their verification, with reported exceptions for certain advertisers.

Twitter has also updated the popup description that you get when clicking on an account's verified badge. The text, which has undergone various iterations in 2023, now reads: "This account is verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number."

If an account is not a subscriber but affiliated with an organization, the text now reads: "This account is verified because it's an affiliate of [company handle] on Twitter." This is the description you'll receive when clicking on the checkmark of individuals such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

Are There Any Checkmarks That Haven't Paid for Twitter Blue?

There have been a few exceptions to Twitter's removal of checkmarks. Notably, some US government figures and international organizations have retained a gray checkmark that designates their account as a government or multilateral organization account.

Some gold checkmarks have also reportedly been granted to high-paying advertisers on Twitter. According to an email screenshot shared by social media consultant Matt Navarra, business accounts spending more than $1,000 per month either already have gold checkmarks or will receive them soon. Verification through Twitter Blue or Verified Organizations will also be a requirement to advertise on the platform, according to the screenshot.

But what about the traditional blue verified tick? Twitter owner Elon Musk has said he has paid for the Twitter Blue subscriptions of three users: William Shatner, LeBron James, and Stephen King.

Twitter's Old Blue Tick Is Officially Gone

It's the end of an era as Twitter removes the blue ticks of legacy verified accounts. Now the blue checkmark means a user is an affiliate of a paying brand or a subscriber to Twitter Blue.