By: Vivek Nair
Image Credit: NBA
Twitter’s new paid verification system has stirred up controversy among many users, including Lakers superstar LeBron James.
In a recent tweet, LeBron stated that he has no intention to pay for a blue check mark in order to verify his identity on the platform, and the tweet went viral instantly.
"Welp guess my blue [check] ... will be gone soon cause if you know me I ain’t paying the 5." wrote LeBron.
LeBron is known to be extremely stingy when it comes to spending his money, but this initiative by Twitter has drawn criticism from many Twitter users.
The blue check mark used to be available for free to some individuals, but now they are going to "begin winding down" the feature and require previously verified accounts to pay for verification.
The new paid feature, called Twitter Blue, was originally $4.99 monthly but has now increased to $8. This has raised concerns, as many individuals may not be able to afford to pay for verification.
Many fans argue that the blue check mark should remain a symbol of verification and authenticity rather than a paid status symbol.
James' announcement that he won't pay for the blue check mark has received significant support and sends a strong message, but so far, there has been no response from Twitter's owner, Elon Musk.
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