Twitter to remove ‘legacy’ verified badges in April, axing blue checkmarks from non-paying verified accounts
David Joseppi
Posted On 24/03/2023 
Twitter has announced that it will be axing its “legacy” verified program beginning next week, removing the iconic blue badge from accounts that received the checkmark prior to Musk’s takeover of the platform last year.
Before Elon Musk’s turbulent acquisition of Twitter, blue verification badges symbolised accounts that had provided information to verify they were genuine and represented the company or individual they claimed they did.
However, as part of Musk’s rampant effort to monetise the platform after his $44 billion buyout, Twitter is now allowing any user worldwide to subscribe and pay to show the platform’s blue verification checkmark on their profile, as well as to gain accesses other paywalled features including the ability to post higher-resolution 1080p videos, share longer tweets, Edit Tweet and Undo Tweet options, and more.
Musk has previously claimed that the legacy verification system was corrupt, saying rogue Twitter employees had been selling blue badges for up to $15k, allowing people to buy the verification checkmark that had previously had been seen as a status symbol by some.
On April 1st, we will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks. To keep your blue checkmark on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue here: https://t.co/gzpCcwOpLp
Organizations can sign up for https://t.co/RlN5BbuGA3…
— Twitter Verified (@verified) March 23, 2023
Beginning April 1, Twitter will begin to close its “legacy” verified program, with the platform advising accounts that were verified through the old “legacy” method that they will need to pay for Twitter Blue to continue to show a blue badge on their account, or join the higher-priced $1,000/month Twitter Verified Organizations subscription, which gives subscribers a golden checkmark rather than the familiar blue badge.
