Elon Musk's paid verification on X (formerly Twitter) in Nov 2022 was mocked as a cash grab for the $44B buyout. Critics: chaotic, fake accounts surged, legacy badges stripped from celebs/journalists, backlash ensued.
Fast-forward: proven model emulated widely. Meta's Verified for IG/FB in early 2023 ($11.99/mo web, $14.99 mobile) bundles visibility, support, anti-impersonation—like X Premium.
Some decry shift from authenticity to pay-to-play, but revenue's huge: X fights spam, boosts creators, sustains amid ad dips; Meta sees strong uptake.
Trend: verification drives monetization/retention. Laughter to imitation, reshaping social media.
In Contra, it's the same with the Pro Badge. I think Contra will shape freelancing platforms.
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Posted Oct 28, 2025
The Power of the Checkmark in Social Media Today
Elon Musk's paid verification on X (formerly Twitter) in Nov 2022 was mocked as a cash grab for the $44B buy...