But one digital media manager hit back, triggering thousands to join the debate on the new blue tick fee.
Are journalists the problem on twitter?
It all started with this tweet.
One digital media manager at a local government in Delaware hit back at Musk saying “I’ll let anyone who gives me money appear to be a legitimate source of news, rather than just ensuring all legitimate sources of news are confirmed to be who they say they are”
Grantham clearly taking a stab at the new blue tick fee Musk introduced to the social media platform since taking over.
Twitter just launched an updated version of its iOS app. The social media platform promises to allow users to pay a monthly subscription to receive a blue checkmark on their profiles, a feature that Elon Musk, the company’s new owner, has backed.
Musk replied back to the media manager, criticising the mainstream media industry.
“You represent the problem: journalists who think they are the only source of legitimate information. That’s the big lie.”
musk, twitter
Grantham came back to Musk, concerned he is making money off verifying users, a feature that he believes (and many on the thread) should be free.
Well known people – also with a blue tick – chimed in replying to the thread, with very divided opinions on the matter
One science reporter asking twitter users – Is Elon Musk a trustworthy source of the truth because he has a blue check?
Crypto influencer Matt Wallace wrote “Blue check journalists have blasted Elon Musk with lies on Twitter for over a decade. So he spent 44 billion on Twitter and decided to make them all pay him $8” to his almost 700,000 twitter followers.
It is fact that journalists are not the only sources of legitimate information but are trained to observe ethical conduct, verify news, check credibility.
But does a blue tick mean the user is tweeting factual information? Harkov’s point has gained likes on the thread and says “blue checks without any verification process will make it harder to figure out what is legitimate information.”
A U.S. journalist advocate thinks journalists create demand for twitter because its where news breaks first.
What side of the fence you sit on when it comes to being verified on twitter? tweet us @tickernewsco
