Beyonce, Ronaldo and the Pope lose Twitter blue check

Twitter has begun removing the blue tick verification badge from thousands of accounts, including those of celebrities such as Beyoncé and Cristiano Ronaldo, as part of its overhaul under owner Elon Musk’s push to turn a profit. 

To retain the verification badge, users must pay $84 a year to subscribe to Twitter Blue. The decision to monetise verification marks a cultural and power shift on the platform, with experts warning it could lead to the spread of misinformation. 

Critics argue the move will amplify disinformation as Twitter Blue subscribers will get prioritised rankings, while Mr Musk has said only verified accounts will appear in the site’s prominent For You stream. 

The change could also cause confusion, with a new handle in New York City claiming to be the “authentic Twitter account” representing the government. Despite the criticisms, Musk said he believes the trend is “very good”.