Over the past few years, Twitter and other social media platforms have become essential tools for politicians and enable politicians to reach out to their voters directly and send their messages to a larger audience. The verification badge is the sign of genuineness and proof that the account belongs to someone who has been verified. It gives verified accounts certain privileges like a priority in search results, access to analytics, and higher trustworthiness.
However, several prominent Indian politicians have recently had their verified “blue tick” removed on Twitter, causing controversy and sparking discussions. But losing the blue tick could harm politicians’ online presence and raise doubts about their accounts’ credibility and genuineness.
Twitter has experienced significant alterations in its verification policies since Elon Musk took control. Earlier, the blue tick verification was offered to prominent persons, journalists, executives, politicians, and institutions once their identities were verified as a sign of their genuineness. It has been reported that users who pay an amount only can retain their blue ticks and additional options on Twitter, such as undoing a tweet, organizing bookmarks, reading tweets in a different mode, and changing app icons.
What is the Blue Tick Badge?
On Twitter, a blue tick badge is a verification symbol next to a user’s name. This blue tick proves that Twitter has verified the user’s account and that their identity is genuine. The primary goal of the blue tick badge, created in 2009, is to help users distinguish real Twitter accounts, especially those belonging to famous people, celebrities, public figures, businesses, and brands. As time has passed, the blue tick badge has become a sign of trustworthiness and authenticity on Twitter.
Why is the Blue Tick Badge Important?
There are multiple reasons why the blue tick badge holds significance:
- It helps Twitter users to differentiate between genuine and fake accounts. Since there are numerous impersonators and bogus accounts on the platform, the blue tick badge assures credibility and authenticity.
- Verified accounts with blue ticks can aid users in building their brand and enhancing their visibility on Twitter. Verified accounts have a higher chance of being recommended by Twitter’s algorithms and appearing in search results.
- The blue tick badge is essential to protect users against impersonation and identity theft.
If a user’s account is verified, it is less probable for someone to create a fraudulent account in their name.
Which Indian Politician lost their blue tick badge?
Politicians from different political parties, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as opposition parties such as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Indian National Congress (INC), have lost their verified badges on social media platforms. One of the reasons these politicians have lost their blue ticks is because they did not want to pay money to Twitter or because they disagreed with Twitter’s policies.
Members of the Indian National Congress (INC)
One of the most high-profile politicians to lose their blue tick was Rahul Gandhi, the former President of the INC. Gandhi’s account was initially verified in 2016. Still, it was recently unverified after he failed to meet Twitter’s new verification guidelines. Gandhi, a vocal critic of the BJP government, accused Twitter of bias and claimed that the decision to unverify his account was politically motivated.
Other members of the INC who lost their blue ticks include Jitin Prasada, a former Union Minister, and Manish Tiwari, a Member of Parliament. Prasada, who recently defected from the INC to join the BJP, claimed that Twitter’s decision to unverify his account was a deliberate attempt to undermine his credibility.
Member of AAP
Similarly, the AAP, the ruling party in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, has also seen several of its leaders lose their blue ticks. Among them are Raghav Chadha, Atishi, and Dilip Pandey. Chadha, Vice Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board, claimed that Twitter’s decision to unverify his account was “arbitrary and discriminatory.”
Member of the ruling party BJP
The BJP, currently in power at the central level, has also seen some of its leaders lose their blue ticks. These include Sambit Patra, a spokesperson for the party, and Vijay Goel, a Member of Parliament. Patra, known for his fiery speeches and social media presence, claimed that Twitter’s decision was “unfortunate” and urged the platform to reconsider.
Fake News and Hate Speech Concerns
The loss of the blue tick might spark controversy and debate on social media, with many politicians and their supporters accusing Twitter of bias and censorship. Some have even called for a boycott of the platform, claiming it is being used to silence dissenting voices. It would also lead to fake news and hate speech because there is no user authenticity, as anybody can purchase the “blue tick badge.”
Stricter Regulation
Twitter has defended its decision, stating that the verification process is based on strict guidelines and that accounts can be unverified if they fail to meet these guidelines. Twitter’s new verification policy includes criteria such as completeness of profile information, presence of a profile image and a confirmed email address or phone number, adherence to Twitter’s rules and policies, and public interest criteria. The company has stated that accounts may lose their verified status if they violate Twitter’s rules or engage in behavior undermining the platform’s integrity.
The loss of the blue tick has also raised questions about the role of social media platforms in politics. While these platforms provide a powerful tool for politicians to communicate directly with their constituents, they also have the potential to be misused to spread fake news, misinformation, and hate speech. Some have called for stricter regulation of social media platforms to ensure they are not used to undermine democracy or incite violence.
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Conclusion
The blue tick badge is an important symbol of credibility and authenticity on Twitter, especially for public figures and politicians. However, recent controversies in India regarding removing blue ticks from prominent politicians’ accounts have raised concerns about the transparency of Twitter’s verification process.
Twitter has defended its decision, citing stricter guidelines and policies, but critics have raised concerns about the potential misuse of social media platforms to spread fake news and hate speech. This situation highlights the need for greater regulation of social media platforms to ensure their integrity and trustworthiness.
