The Ongoing Chaos of Twitter’s "Lords & Peasants" System
Two years ago, Elon Musk launched ‘Twitter Blue’ with a ghastly logo design and a promise to end Twitter’s "lords & peasants system" by offering blue checkmarks to anyone prepared to pay $8 a month. Coming before the rebrand to X, the move almost killed the platform, and things haven’t got much better.
The Rise of Parody Accounts
With so many parody accounts buying ‘verified’ status, Twitter had to add first grey and then gold checkmarks. The result was a system of lords, peasants, and peasants who paid to not look like peasants but whose shiny blue tick was now worthless.
The Current State of X Premium
Two years on, things are no less chaotic, with some paying peasants now complaining that their paid-for blue checkmarks are being taken away. Twitter Blue is no more, replaced with X Premium, which has been trying to promote itself as the ideal Christmas gift (perhaps for someone you really hate). But it seems that paying for a blue tick doesn’t mean it’s yours to keep.
The Controversy Unfolds
There’s been a spate of complaints from people saying they had their checkmarks removed or placed ‘under review’ despite paying for X Premium. Some are claiming that it’s an attempt by Musk to stifle criticism or the expression of political views that he disagrees with, but strangely many of the people complaining are as extreme right as Musk if not more so.
Payment Complications and Censorship
It seems the mass blue tick outage may have a more mundane explanation related to payment complications involving ConservativeOG, to which many of the people complaining are linked. But Musk has caused even more controversy by revealing that verified users have the power to lower the reach of other users’ accounts by muting them. So much for an end to "lords and peasants".
The Unreliability of X
The latest controversy shows why advertisers won’t touch X. The platform has become so unreliable and prone to random chaos.
Conclusion
The ongoing chaos of Twitter’s "lords & peasants" system is a testament to the platform’s inability to deliver on its promises. With payment complications, censorship, and controversy, it’s no wonder that X is struggling to attract and retain users.
FAQs
Q: What is X Premium?
A: X Premium is the rebranded version of Twitter Blue, offering blue checkmarks to those who pay $8 a month.
Q: Why are people complaining about their paid-for blue checkmarks being taken away?
A: Some people are claiming that their checkmarks were removed or placed ‘under review’ despite paying for X Premium, and are accusing Musk of trying to stifle criticism or political views.
Q: What is the recent controversy about?
A: The recent controversy revolves around payment complications and censorship, with verified users having the power to lower the reach of other users’ accounts by muting them.
Q: Why is X struggling to attract and retain users?
A: X is struggling due to its unreliability, prone to random chaos, and controversies surrounding payment complications and censorship.
