Last week, Twitter caused a stir by removing the coveted blue check marks from legacy verified users and urging them to subscribe to Twitter Blue to regain them. However, after receiving backlash from celebrities and public figures, Twitter quietly returned verification to accounts with over 1 million followers. Musk's bet of increasing subscriptions through “the de-verification” backfired horribly with only around 300,000 Twitter Blue subscriptions sold in the first month. The subscription service's features, including editing tweets and identity verification, failed to enhance users' experience.

Moreover, a three-word "hack" has surfaced, allowing users to give themselves the blue tick for free by writing “former blue check" in their bio. While the trick failed to work for users who have never been verified, it was confirmed on accounts that were previously verified. Reports suggest the blue tick appears whenever a user edits their bio, making one wonder if altering bios is turning on a brief error.

Twitter's longstanding verification system has now become a polarizing symbol of Elon Musk's leadership for some of the platform's most prominent users. While some welcome its removal, others believe the subscription features are worth purchasing. Regardless, questioning the value and purpose of Twitter verification continues, causing trouble for the platform's future.