Twitter users baffled over Elon Musk backflip that reinstates blue ticks on deceased users’ accounts

A number of deceased identities are among a string of high-profile users who have received a random feature on their Twitter accounts.

Twitter users are shocked at Musk’s latest move to reinstate (some) blue ticks. Picture: AFP

Twitter CEO Elon Musk appears to have backflipped on his decision to force people to pay for a verified account after reinstating blue ticks for some users, including several deceased identities.

Those with over one million followers did a double-take over the weekend when their ‘legacy’ blue ticks began reappearing beside their username on the social media platform, despite them not paying for a subscription.

Now A-listers like Beyonce, Andy Murray and Richard Osman have received their blue ticks back as quickly as they went missing, while other professionals, such as some journalists, continue to have no verification.

Hundreds of Twitter accounts have had their blue ticks reinstated. Picture: Chris Delmas/AFP

However it’s not just the living who have access to this unexpected feature – a string of deceased personalities also received a tick on their still-existing accounts.

Cherished Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, chef Anthony Bourdain, comedian Bob Saget, athlete Kobe Bryant and US senator John McCain are among several celebrities who now have a blue tick on their accounts, despite being dead.

Even music artists Michael Jackson and Prince appear to have verified accounts.

Another example of Elon Musk not thinking it through. In their attempt to give blue ticks to all celebrities and save face, Twitter is now showing that dead people “subscribed to Twitter blue” and “verified their phone numbers”. 🤦🏻‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/MrxH3YjA5m

— Stuti (@StutiNMishra) April 23, 2023

Initially it was thought those who had over one million followers received the blue checkmark for free, but not all of the deceased celebrities who have received the verified ticks have such a large following.

For example, the late American songwriter Chester Bennington has just shy of 800,000 followers while author Terry Pratchett and singer Prince both have under 200,000.

“I thought it had to do with follower count, like if you have [over] one million, you get the check. But Prince’s account only had about 100,000,” one person tweeted in response.

Nevertheless, the change to these accounts has left fans and Twitter users stumped – particularly given the platform requires a phone number to activate the verification.

“Nothing to see here, just Musk gifting Twitter Blue subscriptions to dead people without getting the family’s permission and skipping the phone verification,” one user said.

“There are accounts of DEAD people on Twitter that are subbed to Twitter Blue,” another tweet said. “How? Is Elon really that desperate that he has to do this? This is shady and disgusting.”

A third commented: “Say what you will, haters – Elon Musk deserves credit for getting dead people to subscribe to Twitter Blue and provide their phone number from beyond the grave.”

I see dead people with Twitter Blue. It's a miracle! 🤣😂

— 🖤🦋Rowan Moon🦋🖤 (@oXxRowanxXo) April 23, 2023

Ongoing blue checkmark saga

The controversial move to reinstate the blue tick for some is the latest development in Twitter’s blue checkmark saga.

When the billionaire entrepreneur bought Twitter in October last year for $US44 billion ($A66 billion), one of his early decisions was to shake up the blue tick system.

Up to that point, the checkmark system was free and enabled prominent figures such as celebrities, media personalities, organisations and professionals to verify themselves so other users could distinguish between them and copycat accounts.

To do so, users had to upload a form of ID and answer a series of questions to help the platform identify they were who they said they were.

But Musk sought to monetise the process.

Now, users must pay $19 monthly or up to $228 annually in Australia to sign up to the Twitter Blue service. This enables them to receive a checkmark and access exclusive features.

“Blue subscribers with a verified phone number will get a blue checkmark once approved,” Twitter said on its subscription landing page.

It means anyone can become verified as long as they pay.

It’s not known if the change is a glitch or was done on purpose. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Other benefits to the blue checkmark subscription include prioritising rankings in conversations and search, seeing “twice as many tweets” between ads, tweet formatting enhancements, the option to edit a tweet and larger video uploads.

Not everyone happy at having tick back

While it’s not clear if the move to reinstate the tick for those with over one million followers is a glitch or a decision by Musk, not all receivers have welcomed the move.

It comes after he revealed he was paying the subscription for several high-profile accounts, despite those users not asking for the service.

British actor Sir Ian McKellen was one of the hundreds or users to receive their blue ticks back, although he didn’t appear to be keen on the move.

“Despite the implication when you click the blue badge that has mysteriously reappeared beside my name, I am not paying for the ‘honour’,” he tweeted.

Hi, I’m Barry Scott. Blue tick reappeared? Change your name, then change it back. BANG! And the mark is gone. pic.twitter.com/BtNbstz64e

— Charlie Brooker (@charltonbrooker) April 23, 2023

UK television presenter and author Richard Osman also reassured his followers he hadn’t purchased the subscription.

“So my blue tick is back. Rest assured I didn’t pay for it. Providing content has always been the entry price to use Twitter. And in return you let me bang on about my books or Fulham,” he tweeted.

“By and large I love this site, and I’ve always been happy with that deal. I haven’t, and wouldn’t, pay for it though.”

Other high-profile users who scored their blue tick overnight include British football commentator Gary Neville, media personality Rylan Clark, London radio host James O’Brien and activist Malala Yousafzai.

they all suddenly got their blue ticks back? El*n is WILDING 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/A8Zre9OiSz

— Rush 🐠 (@drivevolleys) April 22, 2023

Blue ticks are hot topic

Discussion regarding the bizarre change has taken the social media platform by storm with the hashtag #BlueTick receiving 427 tweets in the last hour.

Meanwhile the phrase “Twitter Blue” has received 2907 tweets in the last hour while the phrase “Twitter Blue Tick” has received 1075 tweets.

But it’s not just the blue tick sparking conversation. Grey and gold verification on prominent organisations and news accounts is also raising questions.

“Twitter seems to be restoring verification to the accounts of major news outlets,” BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh tweeted.

“CNN has got its gold verification back, while BBC World, NBC News and Fox News, which until two days ago had gold verification, have now got blue ticks.

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

Meanwhile, ABC News Australia also has a blue check opposed to a gold check while government-funded organisations and people like the SES, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Victorian Government, to name a few, have a grey check near their usernames.

As for Elon Musk himself, he continues to sport a blue check and has made little comment on the change to the platform.