"Twitter's Verification Program Hiatus: The Disappearance of the Blue Tick and Its Impact on Account Authenticity"

Twitter is a social media platform known for its fast-paced, real-time communication and the blue tick that appears on verified accounts. However, recently the blue tick seems to have disappeared. What happened?

Twitter's verification program was designed to help users identify and follow authentic accounts of public figures, organizations, and brands. The blue tick badge next to a username indicates that the account has been verified as authentic by Twitter. This verification process was meant to prevent impersonation and promote trust and credibility.

However, the verification program has been on hiatus since November 2017, when Twitter paused the verification process due to confusion over what the blue tick actually means. Some users thought that the badge represented an endorsement or approval from Twitter, rather than just a verification of identity.

This confusion was only compounded when Twitter verified the account of Jason Kessler, the organizer of the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. The backlash was immediate, with many users calling for Twitter to revoke Kessler's verification and to clarify its verification policies.

In response to the controversy, Twitter announced that it would be pausing its verification program while it reviewed and revised its policies. The company stated that it wanted to ensure that the verification badge was being used to authenticate identity and not to endorse or promote certain accounts.

So, why has the blue tick disappeared? It's because Twitter is currently reworking its verification program. According to the company's website, "We're working on a new authentication and verification program. In the meantime, we are not accepting any public submissions for verification and have introduced new guidelines to verify accounts."

Twitter has also made it clear that even accounts that were previously verified may no longer have the blue tick. In a tweet from December 2020, the company stated that "Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance. We recognize that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. We have paused all general verifications while we work and will report back soon."

It's unclear when Twitter's verification program will resume, but the company has promised that it will be "simpler and more transparent." The new guidelines for verification, which were introduced in November 2020, state that accounts must meet certain criteria to be eligible for verification, including having a complete profile, a confirmed email address and phone number, and being active on the platform for the past six months.

The verification program hiatus has left many Twitter users wondering about the authenticity of accounts. With the blue tick gone, it's become more challenging to differentiate between real and fake accounts. This issue is especially relevant for news organizations and public figures, whose accounts are often targeted by impersonators.

Twitter has acknowledged this problem and has introduced other features to help users identify authentic accounts, such as the "Follow" button, which appears only on verified accounts. Additionally, the company has implemented a system to report impersonation, which allows users to report accounts that are pretending to be someone else.

While these features can help users identify authentic accounts, they don't completely solve the problem. The absence of the blue tick has led to increased scrutiny of account profiles, with users analyzing profile pictures, bio information, and tweets for signs of authenticity. This can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for users who aren't familiar with the account they're trying to verify.

Another issue with the hiatus of the verification program is that it has left many accounts in limbo. Accounts that were previously verified may have lost their blue tick, leaving users unsure of whether they can trust the account. This is especially problematic for accounts that have changed their usernames or have been inactive for a long time.

Twitter has stated that it is working on a solution to these problems, but it's unclear when the verification program will be re-launched. In the meantime, users can take steps to protect themselves from fake accounts. These include checking the account's bio information and tweets for consistency and accuracy, looking for other indicators of authenticity such as the Follow button, and reporting any suspicious accounts to Twitter.

In conclusion, the hiatus of Twitter's verification program has had a significant impact on the platform's users, particularly in terms of account authenticity. While Twitter is working on a new and improved verification program, users must be diligent in verifying the authenticity of accounts themselves. By taking these steps, users can continue to use Twitter as a reliable source of information and communication.The blue tick may have disappeared from Twitter, but it's not gone forever. Twitter's verification program is currently undergoing an overhaul to ensure that the badge represents only authentication of identity, and not endorsement or importance. While it's unclear when the program will resume, it's important for users to understand that the blue tick may no longer be a reliable indicator of authenticity until the program is re-launched.

If you're interested in getting verified on Twitter, be sure to check the company's guidelines and eligibility requirements once the program is re-launched. And in the meantime, take the blue tick with a grain of salt.