Twitter halts account verification process citing need for improvement

Several fictitious accounts that seemed to be part of a botnet were wrongfully verified.

NEW DELHI — Twitter, the popular microblogging and social networking site, has paused its account verification programme, citing a need to improve the application and approval process that allows users to join the blue checkmark club.

According to The Verge, its decision to stop allowing new individuals to request for verification comes after the site revealed that numerous bogus accounts that seemed to be part of a botnet were erroneously validated.

If you applied for verification recently, there’s a possibility you’ll receive it — Twitter Verified has stated that it will continue to assess existing applications, thus the freeze is just stopping new applicants from applying.

Twitter verification process is coming back soon

To put it another way, if you were able to apply previously, Twitter’s CEO says you can still do so. The platform hasn’t said if it would adjust the standards it employs to determine whether an account is verifiable or not.

The Verge also quoted an unnamed Twitter spokesman as having said that the company will continue allowing submission of verification applications in the coming weeks.

Verification process halted earlier as well

This isn’t the first time Twitter’s verification procedure has been suspended. After receiving outrage for confirming one of the organizers of the Unite The Right protest in Charlottesville, it placed the public process on hold in 2017.

In 2021, it reintroduced a modified version, which was then stopped a week later owing to an avalanche of applications.

The problems that the platform has had with its Verified programme point to the complications that might arise when awarding a badge that is often interpreted as an endorsement by users.

The badge’s goal, according to the micro-blogging site, is to demonstrate that an account is “authentic, notable, and active,” yet even those requirements may cause controversy when users who are undoubtedly notable have their applications denied (especially when obviously fake accounts make it through).

Twitter also updated look & feel of its web version

Earlier, the social media giant updated the look of its mobile and desktop websites. The modifications in colour and typeface were made to “clean up a lot of visual clutter”, according to the company.

Chirp, a new typeface, was unveiled in January but just became widely available on Thursday. In a blog post, Twitter stated that Chirp finds a mix between messy and sharp to highlight the fun and irreverence of a Tweet, but can also bear the weight of seriousness when needed.