By Tony Bruce and Ben Emos | Friday, September 6, 2024 | 4 min read
Few actions in recent years have done more to turn a social media platform into a haven for disinformation, extremism, and authoritarian propaganda than the changes made to Twitter after Elon Musk’s acquisition in 2022. Since taking over as CEO, Musk has dismantled the platform’s trust and safety teams, reinstated previously banned extremist and dangerous accounts, and removed labels identifying accounts linked to foreign governments, including Russian and Chinese state media. He has also censored journalists critical of him, while users report a notable surge in hate speech, online trolling, and harassment. These shifts signal Twitter’s decline as a reliable source for news and information.
In an effort to generate new revenue, Elon Musk dismantled one of Twitter’s key anti-disinformation features: the verification system that identified verified users and authenticated accounts with a blue check mark. This innovation had previously bolstered trust on the platform, which had become essential for following breaking news. Verification by Twitter was designed to authenticate the identities of public figures, agencies, journalists, and commentators. Introduced in 2009 to combat impersonator accounts, the blue check mark indicated that an account had been verified for authenticity, though the process was often criticized for its lack of transparency. In May 2021, under pre-Musk leadership, Twitter relaunched the verification program with clearer guidelines on eligibility, expanding verification beyond public officials and notable individuals to include businesses and brands at risk of impersonation.
Over time, the blue check mark became more than just a symbol of verified authenticity—it evolved into a status symbol. “Blue checks” represented a kind of Twitter elite, a group of influential voices that included the platform’s most prominent and widely followed users. Recognizing its allure, Elon Musk saw an opportunity to monetize it. Now, users seeking the blue check must subscribe to Twitter Blue, but the only authentication involved appears to be a working form of payment. Although Twitter retained the term “verification” for its new subscription service, any paying user can now acquire a blue check mark. As a result, most of the original verified users—those whose identities were actually confirmed—lost their status unless they opted to pay for it.
The rollout of Twitter Blue has been chaotic, leading to a surge of fake accounts sporting blue check marks. Within 24 hours of the changes, The New York Times reported that at least 11 newly verified accounts were impersonating the Los Angeles Police Department. One account falsely claiming to be the mayor of New York City announced plans to create a Department of Traffic and Parking Enforcement and slash police funding by 70 percent. The Guardian highlighted similar incidents, with blue-check accounts posing as the U.S. Internal Revenue Service during tax-filing season. Musk’s decision to label this subscription service as “verification” is itself a clever form of disinformation.
Twitter Blue accounts have become a significant driver of disinformation, particularly concerning the Russia–Ukraine war—a topic on which Musk has frequently echoed Kremlin-aligned narratives. Disinformation spread by Twitter Blue users, amplified by the platform’s algorithm that boosts the visibility of their accounts and posts, includes false claims such as alleged organ harvesting in Ukraine and reports that weapons intended for Ukraine were used in recent protests in France. According to a report by BBC Verify, some of this content can be traced back to pro-Kremlin propaganda accounts. The new Twitter Blue system not only amplifies these misleading messages but also exploits the lingering perception among users that the blue check mark still signifies credibility, thereby creating a dangerous illusion of trustworthiness.
Since Musk’s takeover, X has drastically reduced its content moderation efforts. This has allowed a surge of election-related disinformation, including false claims about voter fraud, election results, and political candidates.
The platform’s algorithms, which prioritize engagement, have been criticized for amplifying sensational and misleading election-related content. Posts that provoke strong reactions, regardless of their accuracy, often get boosted, contributing to the spread of disinformation.
With the introduction of monetization for viral content, users may be financially motivated to create and spread sensational and false election narratives to generate clicks and engagement.
As election cycles approach in various regions, the spread of disinformation on X poses significant risks to voter awareness and election integrity. Critics argue that these changes make the platform a less reliable space for accurate election information, which could undermine public trust in the electoral process.
Musk has reinstated accounts previously suspended for spreading election disinformation, including far-right influencers, conspiracy theorists, and individuals promoting false narratives about past elections. This has contributed to a resurgence of misleading content on the platform.
Delivering information during breaking global news events was once Twitter’s core strength. Now, the platform has become detrimental to democracy. Pay-to-play verification diminishes the reach of voices that cannot—or choose not to—pay for a subscription. This shift has made the already difficult task of distinguishing authentic accounts and credible sources of information even harder, undermining the platform’s role as a reliable resource during critical global events.
