Twitter relaunched its verification program in May, allowing users to apply for the coveted blue checkmark for the first time in four years, but on Friday the social media platform hit the pause button – again.
The move is due to Twitter verifying ‘a small number’ of fake accounts that were mostly part of a botnet.
The company wants to improve its application and review process before handing out more checkmarks.
For users who applied in the past few months, the Jack Dorsey-led company said it is still reviewing existing applications, but will prohibit new ones from flowing in until further notice.
Twitter proudly relaunched its verification program in May, allowing users to apply for the coveted blue checkmark for the first time in four years, but on Friday the social media platform hit the pause button, again
‘We’ve temporarily hit pause on rolling out access to apply for Verification so we can make improvements to the application and review process,’ Twitter Verified shard in a tweet Friday.
‘For those who have been waiting, we know this may be disappointing. We want to get things right, and appreciate your patience.’
Twitter stopped handing out the coveted blue check mark in 2017 after it came under scrutiny for verifying the account of a known white supremacist who organized racist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The firm had continued to verify accounts since it discontinued individual requests, but only those firmly in the public eye – namely politicians and in recent times, public health experts.
The move is due to Twitter verifying several fake accounts, in June it admitted this occurred with a ‘small number of fraudulent accounts, with most part of a botnet. The company wants to improve its application and review process before handing out more checkmarks
This past November, the platform announced the revival of its verification program last November, saying it would accept applications ‘early 2021’ – and that day came on May 20.
The program was open to users that fell into one of the six following categories:
- Government
- Companies, brands and organizations
- News organizations and journalists
- Entertainment
- Sports and gaming
- Activists, organizers, and other influential individuals
But since then, Twitter has mistakenly verified fake accounts, with the latest incident this month when it gave the blue check mark to an account claiming to be from author Cormac McCarthy – but it quickly acknowledged the mistake.
‘The account referenced was verified by mistake and that has since been reversed,’ a spokesperson told the AP. ‘The account will also be required to adhere to Twitter’s parody, newsfeed, commentary, and fan account policy.’
The account for the award-winning author, 88 – which was first created in September 2018 under the handle @CormacMcCrthy – had its blue check verification removed after it was determined to have been phony.
And this was just one of ‘several’ fake accounts, which has sparked Twitter to pause the program.
