Two people with large followings on Twitter once again reported seeing the blue verification badge next to their names this Sunday. The badge, historically reserved for official accounts, appeared on profiles that had not paid for Twitter Blue or shared a phone number, sparking questions about what users are seeing on the platform today.
Clicking on the profiles showed the same message as those who subscribe to the eight-dollar-a-month service, indicating that the account is subscribed to Twitter Blue. This is the current display even when the verified status seems to appear without a paid subscription and without a phone number linked to the account.
Several well-known figures from various fields commented publicly on the situation, stressing that they did not subscribe to Twitter Blue or provide a phone number. They noted that the blue mark reappeared without explanation after having disappeared previously. Actor Ian McKellen remarked that the badge sometimes reappears mysteriously, even when no payment is made for verification.
Economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman also spoke up, stating that his blue sign had reappeared despite having no involvement with the service. Elon Musk replied with a playful photomontage featuring a crying child and a verified badge, prompting further discussion among users.
This week, the blue badge returned to many users with substantial follower counts who had lost the mark, including some accounts that appeared inactive. Prominent figures who have passed away, such as a legendary basketball player and a celebrated chef and presenter, were reported to have their verification restored as well.
News outlets and media organizations, including Fox News and major agencies like Reuters, AP, AFP, and EFE, also saw the blue badge reappear for some accounts on the same day, although not all users who previously held verification retained it.
Across major U.S. outlets known for a left-leaning stance and frequently criticized by Musk, the gold-stamped verification of brands and organizations appeared to represent paid verification by the platform, a costly service that was once rumored to be priced at a higher monthly rate. The rapid changes to verification status raised concerns among users about consistency and trust on the platform and sparked discussions about policy and control.
The platform’s owner, who has a history of using his account for provocative posts, mentioned on Twitter that he began paying subscriptions for a few celebrities, including the actor William Shatner, basketball star LeBron James, and author Stephen King. These comments came as the public began debating how verification should work in a system that blends paid services with longstanding public-interest accounts.
LeBron James and Stephen King had already explained that they do not pay for the subscription service, while the platform continues to offer other advantages such as editing tweets, expanding character limits, and enhancing the reach and visibility of posts through the algorithm. These features have been part of the conversation about how paid verification fits into a broader strategy for social media engagement and audience growth.