Jason Alexander threatens to quit Twitter for ditching the blue “Verified” checkmark
Seinfeld alum Jason Alexander, 63, has spoken out about Elon Musk, 51, announcing that Twitter will remove verified blue ticks awarded to famous and notable people.
The marks are expected to be gone by Saturday.
Accounts that were previously owned are required to pay up to $11 per month to maintain them.
“Friends, there are bigger problems in the world than the blue verified check next to my name on this account,” Alexander wrote on Twitter. But without it, a person can claim to be me. So, if I lose this check, know that I will be leaving this platform. Anyone who shows up with her = an impostor,” he continued.
He added, “I’m telling you this while I’m still official.”
Not having it: Seinfeld alum Jason Alexander talked about removing the blue check mark on Twitter
Departure: Jason, 63, said he will leave the social media platform when his verified status is gone
The Curb Your Enthusiasm alum isn’t the only celebrity to speak out about the end of the free blue check mark, which was previously a free perk given to “active, prominent, and real” accounts of people like politicians, celebrities, and journalists.
Musk has been looking for new ways to monetize Twitter since buying it for $44 billion in October.
In particular, he spoke about how he found the blue check mark system ‘corrupt’ and simply a status symbol for celebrities and journalists – two groups he insults.
Over the weekend, a number of celebrities expressed their displeasure with Musk’s recent change to the social media platform.
William Shatner, 92, tagged Musk in his tweet and wrote, “I’ve been here for 15 years giving (watch emojis) and my clever ideas all for bupkis,” he wrote. Now you’re telling me I have to pay for something you gave me for free? What is this – Colombian Record and Tape Club? ‘
Meanwhile, actress Jennifer Tilly, 64, wrote, “It was so hard to get my blue tick, it looks like it would be so easy to lose it.” I look forward to being non-existent again.
Monica Lewinsky, 49, shared a screenshot of all the different accounts she’s already impersonating that have blue checkmarks just because they subscribe to Twitter Blue.
And next to the screenshot, she wrote, “Hmm, this is going to be fun…”.
More outrage: Actress Jennifer Tilly also isn’t in favor of losing her verified status
It already started: Monica Lewinsky shared a screenshot of all the paid Twitter Blue users already impersonating her
But removing the old blue checkmarks isn’t the only changes coming to Twitter.
Starting April 15, users who don’t pay for Twitter Blue — which costs $8 per month for Android and $11 per month for iOS — won’t be able to vote in polls.
Their tweets will also not appear in the For You tab, which displays popular tweets boosted by an algorithm.
Musk said the changes would prevent “hordes of AI bots from taking over” the site, though he didn’t explain exactly how.
Justification for His Changes: Elon Musk Curses Celebrities and Journalists, Two Groups Who Benefited from the Old, Free, and Verified Blue Checkmark Practice
The CEO said paid social media would be the ‘only social media that matters’.
This is the only realistic way to deal with the hordes of advanced bots taking over. Otherwise, it’s a hopelessly losing battle,” Musk wrote on Twitter Blue.
Jake Moore, a technology expert and security consultant at ESET, challenged Musk’s suggestion that the decision had something to do with removing Twitter bots.
“This isn’t just a response to the AI bots infesting the site, this is a response to the company hemorrhaging money,” Moore told MailOnline.
Musk killed the company and is now looking into removing features from unpaid accounts.
Sayonara: Jason Alexander is just one of many high profile people planning to leave the platform when accounts impersonating them open up