UPDATE: Elon Musk tweeted that he is going to hold off on the relaunch of the blue checkmark until there is a “high confidence of stopping impersonation. He did not specify a time frame for when this might occur. He also said that Twitter is considering using different colors for checkmarks to differentiate account types.
Since billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter at the end of October, the social media platform has been in a constant state of chaos. Every day brings new reports of problems, including hiring, firing and rehiring; imposing intense work schedules; reinstating controversial users; and suspending and reinstating the $8-a-month blue checkmark verification subscription. To add to the confusion, seven Democratic senators have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Twitter is violating consumer privacy, The New York Times reports.
Hiring, firing and rehiring
Since Musk took over Twitter, top executives have left the company, Musk laid off about half the staff, and asked some of those laid off to come back when he realized he needed them. The turmoil continued last week when hundreds of Twitter employees resigned on Thursday, says The New York Times. Musk had given them a deadline of November 17 to decide if they were going to commit to Twitter 2.0. Those who left will receive three months’ severance pay.
The blue checkmark returns November 29
On November 9, Twitter launched an $8-a-month subscription that allowed Twitter users who subscribed to “earn” the famous blue checkmark, indicating they had Twitter-verified accounts. However, spammers and spoofers wreaked havoc on the social media platform, causing Twitter to suspend the blue checkmark subscription. It is coming back November 29. Musk made the announcement on November 15.
Donald Trump’s Twitter account reinstated
Musk has reinstated some users who were previously banned from the social media platform, including former President Donald Trump. Trump, however, said in a virtual appearance before the Republican Jewish Coalitions annual leadership meeting that he isn’t interested in returing reports The Hill. Trump said there are too many problems at Twitter and the social media platform may or may not make it.
At Musk’s direction, Twitter also reinstated other previously banned or temporarily suspended user accounts, CBS News reports. Some of those users include the following.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
- Babylon Bee
- Kathy Griffin
- Jordan Peterson
- Andrew Tate
- Project Veritas
- Ye (formerly known as Kanye West)
Not all of these users have agreed to come back.
Insider Take
While Twitter has a rightful place on the social media scene, the platform is a bit of a joke right now. Musk’s authoritarian demeanor contrasts with his impulsive decision-making, and his behavior is causing users to leave for other platforms. His behavior at Twitter mirrors his behavior from 2018 at Tesla, reports The New York Times. Musk slept at the office, demanded a rigorous work schedule from employees, and said that the company was going to have to file for bankruptcy. He has now brought that management style to Twitter, and people and the platform will suffer as a result. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but maybe he’ll take off time for the holiday and give the news cycle and the remaining staff a bit of a break.
