"Twitter Blue Revolution: Elon Musk's Bold Move Sparks Outrage and Divides Twitter Users"

In a single, extensive chart, the fall of verification and the emergence of Twitter Blue over the course of Elon Musk's six-month tenure as owner of Twitter can be observed.

During this time, Musk has dramatically transformed the platform's verification system, which previously only authenticated select accounts belonging to public figures, government agencies, and media outlets. Now, however, users can obtain the coveted blue checkmark by subscribing to Twitter Blue, leading to a surge in verifications and ensuing confusion.

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According to estimates provided by Berlin-based software developer Travis Brown to CNN, there were at least 550,000 Twitter Blue subscribers as of April 23, just days after Musk removed all legacy blue checks from users. This figure stands in contrast to the 400,000 accounts that had been verified with legacy blue checks prior to the purge.

It is unclear how many Twitter Blue subscribers are actually paying customers, as Musk has reportedly gifted the service to some celebrities. Furthermore, the extent to which Twitter can continue to grow its subscriptions - a key aspect of Musk's plan to increase the platform's revenue - remains uncertain.

Since taking over Twitter in October, Musk has made numerous significant changes to the company. These include reducing the workforce by more than 80% and restructuring the site's policies, which has drawn criticism for its potential impact on safety and transparency. As a result, several top advertisers have left the platform, and last month Musk valued it at approximately $20 billion - less than half of what he paid for it.

However, perhaps one of Musk's most noteworthy and far-reaching changes has been the introduction of Twitter Blue. Billed as a replacement for the previous verification system, the subscription-based model allows anyone to obtain a blue badge and other features - such as prioritized rankings in conversations and search - for a monthly fee of $8.

The backlash against Twitter Blue has been rapid, with chaos and confusion ensuing in its wake. The program was briefly suspended shortly after its launch due to an account impersonating Eli Lilly and Company tweeting "insulin is free now," causing a significant drop in the stock's value.

More recently, the removal of blue checks has brought about a shift in the platform's culture. Once a highly coveted symbol of status, many users now view the blue badge as unappealing. Last week, when the blue checkmark appeared on several famous accounts, celebrities like Lil Nas X and Chrissy Teigen vehemently denied having paid for the service.

In light of these developments, let us take a moment to reflect on the rise and fall of Twitter's blue badge.