Those were the people who were previously verified? I.E. they were notable enough to a _large enough cross section of twitter users_ in some way shape or form.

Sure, members of the media were given a check as a directive of public-facing policy and thus over-represented, but considering they actually _reported_ on events happening (including things that wouldn’t be so unfiltered on cable news or newspapers, but live feeds and videos of events in real-time, like the 2011 Egyptian Revolution), I personally thought it made sense they too were boosted by the algorithm.

Now every other blue check I see is someone shilling an ICO (in 2023?) or someone I don’t follow responding something transphobic/racist/whatever to someone else I also don’t follow.

I’ve been on Twitter since 2011. I’ve seen it change even under the old ownership. I thought the blue check feature was flawed in the past (in fact, it should’ve been MORE stringent), but now I just find it actively diluting the entire experience.

I really don’t care what ANON1234 with 8 followers thinks about covid vaccines just because they paid $8, and I don’t think most other users do either.

Now that cultural relevance has been muddled, now any random person can get one. So it's lost value for people who actually need verification as a security / fraud feature and for journalists and for the people paying for one.

Blue Checkmark during Musk: "Ah, another rando culture warrior that paid $8"

What's immensely enjoyable is seeing Free Speech Absolutists flood to the new Blue Checkmark, only to realize that it's now completely meaningless.

Mission accomplished! Blue Checkmark destroyed! Take that, establishment!

Except that the "legacy" Blue Checkmarks are moving to Notes, and it has the actual Blue Checkmarks - again.