Twitter users have started to lose their legacy blue verification badges in line with the micro-blogging platform’s latest policy.
Verified badges were originally awarded to high-profile users and public organisations by Twitter’s previous leadership to distinguish them from regular accounts.
The company had previously announced plans to phase out the verification system by April 1, but the date came and went with no action.
Last week, CEO Elon Musk stated that the new date for the verification badge removal would be April 20.
As of early Thursday afternoon, numerous well-known figures, including Nigeria’s President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi, PDP Presidential candidate in the last election Atiku Abubakar, Heirs Holding Chairman Tony Elumelu, among other high profile Nigerians and VIPs, had lost their badges.
TV personality Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, Halle Berry, former US Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, and others also lost their verified statuses.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Pope Francis weren’t spared among public figures who also lost their badges.
All subscribers now have to pay to acquire and retain the blue tick, on the social media platform.