A bunch of verified Twitter users have started impersonating Elon Musk on the platform, and things are getting inevitably chaotic.
This week’s online drama has revolved around the ongoing saga of Twitter’s blue tick, which is rapidly evolving from a simple verification system for celebrities, journalists and other high profile users to a controversial paid-for package.
Following much speculation, Musk confirmed the new charge earlier this week, tweeting: "Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is b******t.
"Power to the people! Blue for $8/month. Price adjusted by country proportionate to purchasing power parity.”
He added that blue tick users would also get ‘priority in replies, mentions & search, which is essential to defeat spam/scam’, the ability to post long video and audio, half as many ads and ‘paywall bypass for publishers willing to work with us’.
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The verification system is currently designed to help users identify authentic and influential users on the platform, including government figures, sports stars, entertainment figures, journalists and major brands and organisations.
But in the wake of the new changes, many people have been trolling the situation by using their existing blue tick - which they've acquired under the present system - to pose as none other than Musk.
Posting a screengrab of one such case on Reddit, someone wrote: "Verified twitter users impersonating Elon Musk is getting out of control."
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The tweet in question, which initially appeared to be shared by Elon Musk, but was actually another verified user who had changed their name, said: "There is nothing better than waking up and enjoying a fresh, steaming cup of my own urine. Such a tangy way to start the day, and it’s scientifically proven to help brain cells grow. If you want to be like me, drink your pee."
Someone else shared angry direct messages from people who thought they were speaking to the actual Elon Musk, joking: "Thank you for DMing me, the ceo of twitter."
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One also started bargaining on the monthly charge as yet another Musk imposter, writing: "Ok, I'll go down to $6.78 for the blue checky thing."
They then returned to the idea not long after, correcting themselves by saying: "No, $5.25. Yeah, nice and even. Well not even technically given 25 is odd but like an easy extra quarter."
By the end of the thread, 'Elon Musk' had reduced the price to just $1.97.
"Like a Costco discount," they quipped.
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When someone asked if they could get a 'bulk package of check marks', the prankster replied: "Once I get my government subsidy of millions and millions of dollars (which isn’t socialism cause I pay someone to fill out all the paperwork! I’m self made! See how top-down, trickle stuff works buddy?), I’ll see if I can swing a check mark or two your way."
Sheer chaos.
Jess Hardiman