Twitter Pulls Check Marks as Tumblr Matches the Deal

Twitter has suspended the chaotic sale of its $7.99-a-month blue check mark after one day, when it became clear the internet could not be trusted to use it responsibly. The verification badge, which the company no longer verifies, immediately began showing up on fake accounts, the Washington Post reports. That wasn't the real LeBron James, for example, who tweeted that he wants to be traded. Eli Lily apologized for a tweet it didn't send that said, "We are excited to announce insulin is free now," per WTHR. The suspension of Twitter Blue took effect Thursday night to "help address impersonation issues," a company note said, though some fake accounts remained live on Friday. The check mark was the first big product launch by new owner Elon Musk.

Tumblr tweaked its competitor by offering its own meaningless check marks for sale. The social network, which makes no effort to verify celebrity accounts, lists the Tumblr Important Blue Internet Checkmark for $7.99—a one-time purchase, not monthly—in its web store. The deal actually is for two equally pointless check marks that can be added to the account of the user's choice, per the Verge. (More Twitter stories.)