Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido lose Twitter verification badges

Award-winning superstar singers, Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid have lost their Twitter badges after failing to comply with Twitter CEO, Elon Musk’s new rules.

Kemi Filani reported last year, that Twitter had made plans to start charging nearly $20 a month for users to stay verified.

This is part of a premium service that will be rolled out under Elon Musk’s leadership, according to a report.

Musk, who took over as the CEO of the social media platform, in a tweet on Sunday, October 30, said,

“The whole verification process is being revamped right now”.

The company also plans to raise its optional $ 4.99-a-month premium subscription called Twitter Blue to $19.99 a month. However, that price is subject to change. The Verge reported, citing internal correspondence and people familiar with the matter.

Failure to comply with his rules meant an automatic loss of one’s verification, which social media users use in differentiating a celebrity’s page and that of the common man.

Keeping to his words, Twitter has started stripping celebrities and public figures of their Twitter badges.

Nigerian superstar trio didn’t comply with the rules and lost their verification check marks.

Kemi Filani did a check on their respective Twitter pages and noticed the new change.

“I am verified in heaven and it’s free” Filmmaker Dami Elebe reacts to Twitter verification charges

When the news of the verification broke out, filmmaker Dami Elebe questioned how the billionaire businessman would be charging 20 dollars a month for a tick.

Dami stated that she is verified in heaven and it’s free.

“20 dollars a month for a tick?

I’m verified in heaven and it’s free”.

Instagram to start selling verification

Following Twitter’s footsteps, the Facebook and Instagram owner had revealed plan to launch a paid subscription service starting at $11.99 a month.

This feature is meant to allow users to verify their accounts, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced this Sunday, following a similar move by Elon Musk at Twitter.

Meta Verified, which will roll out first in Australia and New Zealand, will let users “verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support,” Zuckerberg said.

“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” he wrote in a statement posted to his Facebook account.

There would be no changes to accounts on Facebook and Instagram that are already verified, the company said, adding that only users who are over the age of 18 will be allowed to subscribe. The service is not yet available to businesses.

Musk’s initial attempts to launch a similar service at rival social media network Twitter last year backfired wildly with an embarrassing spate of fake accounts that scared advertisers and cast doubt on the site’s future.

He was forced to briefly suspend the effort before relaunching it to muted reception in December.

Meta’s announcement comes as the social media behemoth grappled with financial difficulties over the past year, announcing in November that it would lay off 11,000 employees or 13 percent of its staff — the largest worker reduction in the company’s history.