Major News Organizations Refuse to Pay for Twitter Blue Amid Elon Musk’s Controversial Changes to the Social Media Platform

Several major news organizations, including The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times, have publicly stated that they will not pay for Twitter Blue, a subscription service on the social media platform that offers additional features to its users. The move comes in response to changes made to Twitter by Elon Musk, who took over the company in late October.

One of Musk’s most controversial moves has been to make sweeping changes to Twitter Blue, which now costs $8 per month. The service offers features such as the ability to edit tweets, vote in polls, and see fewer ads. However, many news organizations are refusing to pay for the service, citing concerns over the loss of authority and expertise associated with the blue checkmark verification system.

The blue checkmark, which denotes a verified Twitter account, has long been seen as a symbol of authority and expertise in the social media world. However, news organizations are now arguing that this is no longer the case. In a statement, The Washington Post said that “verified checkmarks no longer represent authority and expertise,” and that the newspaper would not be paying for Twitter Blue.

Similarly, The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times have also stated that they will not be paying for the service. The decision not to pay for Twitter Blue is seen as a rebuke of Musk’s leadership style and his sweeping changes to the social media platform.

Musk’s takeover of Twitter has been marked by controversy and a series of high-profile disputes with journalists and news organizations. Some critics have accused him of using his position to promote his own interests and to silence voices that do not align with his own views.

Despite the pushback from news organizations, it remains to be seen whether Musk will make any changes to Twitter Blue in response. However, the decision by major news outlets to withhold payment for the service is a clear sign of the growing tension between the tech mogul and the media industry.