Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Twitter has a secret list of VIPs getting boosted on the platform

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 28 Mar 2023 20:24
3 Min Read

Twitter is trying to up profitability by forcing more people to pay more money for more features, all the while it is secretly boosting certain celebrities.

  • x
  • A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Dec. 8, 2022 (AP)
    A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Dec. 8, 2022 (AP)

Twitter has been informing users verified under the platform's previous rules that they would be stripped of their blue check marks unless they become paid subscribers to Twitter Blue, the company's subscription-based verification system.

It's about "treating everyone equally," CEO Elon Musk tweeted in response to actor William Shatner who was criticizing the company's decision to take away the blue checkmarks from previously verified creators.

"Hey @elonmusk what’s this about blue checks going away unless we pay Twitter?" Shatner asked. "Now you’re telling me that I have to pay for something you gave me for free?"

"There shouldn't be a different standard for celebrities [in my opinion]," Musk added.

Twitter announced last week that it would "begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks."

"Any individual person's Twitter account affiliated with a verified organization is automatically verified," the company's CEO announced.

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

Furthermore, in light of the fiasco, Musk announced that only verified accounts would be eligible to be in For You recommendations, claiming it was "the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over."

Related News

Cholera devastates Darfur region amid conflict, US aid cuts

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

He also said that voting in polls would require verification.

However, Twitter has a standard for celebrities, including Musk himself, maintaining for months a list of some 35 VIPs whose accounts it monitors and offers increased visibility alongside Elon Musk, Platformer reported, citing company documents that it obtained.

The website reported that the list in question includes NBA all-star LeBron James, conservative commentators Ben Shapiro, democrat representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and US President Joe Biden.

Musk's new measures aimed at increasing profitability come after it was reported that Twitter is worth less than half of what the billionaire paid for it six months ago, as it lost more than $20 billion in value, according to calculations based on a leaked memo from the CEO himself.

In his memo, Musk suggested to Twitter's staff that the social media company is now valued at less than $20bn. He paid $44 billion for it in October 2022.

After Musk's takeover, the company was devalued by half. Several main investors left the company, including the investment firm Fidelity, which downed the value of its stake by 56%.

Twitter's worth is measured based on Musk's offer to stock grants. Stock grants are an opportunity to incentivize employees to buy shares that cannot be sold until a specific set time, as opposed to stock options. 

The aim behind stock grants is to encourage staff to reach a set valuation so that they can sell their shares for cash after a specific period of time. 

The stock grants could be “sold every six months, based on a third party valuation," another separate internal email to Twitter staff said.

Musk's email also mentioned that acrimonious layoffs will come up in the company since they were running out of money. Twitter employees stand at about 2,000 after the job cuts down from 7,500, according to figures Musk put forward in December. 

  • United States
  • Ben Shapiro
  • Elon Musk
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
  • Twitter

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS