Twitter Faces Widespread Impersonation After Verification Changes Twitter recently launched a new paid verification system. This system lets users buy blue check marks for eight dollars monthly. The change triggered immediate problems. Many accounts started impersonating famous people and companies. These accounts paid for verification then changed their names and profile pictures. They copied celebrities, politicians, and major brands. Fake accounts appeared for figures like former President Barack Obama and basketball star LeBron James. These accounts posted misleading tweets. Some tweets spread false information. Others made offensive jokes.
(Twitter’s Battle with Account Impersonation)
One impersonator posed as drug company Eli Lilly. This fake account claimed free insulin for everyone. The false announcement caused Eli Lilly’s stock price to drop. The real company issued a public apology. Other companies including Lockheed Martin and Nintendo faced similar fake accounts. Their reputations suffered potential harm.
Twitter suspended many offending accounts quickly. The platform also updated its rules. Now verified accounts changing names may temporarily lose their blue checks. But the chaos had already happened. Major advertisers paused their spending on Twitter. They worried about brand safety.
Regulators expressed concern. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is monitoring the situation. This could mean legal problems for Twitter. Elon Musk bought Twitter promising improvements. Instead the platform experienced severe disruption.
(Twitter’s Battle with Account Impersonation)
Twitter now says it is fixing the issue. The company hired more staff to review accounts. It is testing new anti-impersonation features. But user trust took a hit. Advertisers remain cautious. Many are waiting for proof Twitter can prevent future incidents. The platform’s reputation faces ongoing challenges.