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'Impersonation isn't parody, it's misrepresentation': Internet slams trolls calling out Elon Musk

The chaos started when Twitter rolled out new paid subscription system of $8 for people with blue checkmark account

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: After Kathy Griffin's Twitter account suspension on November 6, people questioned the vows made by Elon Musk who declared Twitter will be a place of “free speech" and "comedy is now legal on Twitter.” However, the Internet is now on Musk's side and is slamming trolls who roasted the CEO.

The whole drama started when Twitter rolled out the controversial new paid subscription system of $8 for people with blue checkmark accounts on November 6, 2022. Previously, Twitter's verification was only available to influential individuals and organizations to prove their identity but now the subscription service will give the liberty to anyone to get a blue tick, only if they pay. The move was announced by Musk on November 1, who wrote, "Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bull***t. Blue for $8/month." In counterattack, some verified users, to protest the subscription fee, changed their names and profile pictures on the platform to Musk's photo.

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Following this, Griffin's account got suspended. To which, she reacted by saying on Mastodon, another social media platform where she set up an account last week, as quoted by Clickon Detroit, "I guess not ALL the content moderators were let go? Lol." Netizens too reacted and one of many said, "Wow I had a completely different thing in mind when he said free speech, I’ll have to look up the definition again."

'Temporary loss of verified checkmark'

Musk, who bought Twitter on October 27, tweeted, "Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended,” In a follow-up tweet, he wrote, “Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning. This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue." He also added, "Any name change at all will cause temporary loss of verified checkmark." 

Supporting this, many stood with Musk and trolled the people who slammed him for the account ban. One wrote, "Wasn’t this the whole reason why Twitter started using blue checks in the first place? To cut down on accounts impersonating other accounts?" Another user said, "Impersonating another person then tweeting things that person never said while you pretend to be then isn’t free speech. If not clearly parody…it’s an deliberate attempt to openly lie to and misinform that persons followers. Stop pretending she did nothing wrong." One more individual wrote, "If someone is impersonating a real individual, and does not expressly indicate it is a parody account, should be banned. It’s abuse."

The bashing continued, as a supporter wrote, "It’s not parody when you exist as a verified member. Verification means twitter verified who you say you are. The minute you change your name, you are unverified. You can’t be verified and pretend to be another verified member. It’s not parody. It’s misrepresentation." Another user expressed, "Impersonating someone is not parody. It’s fraud." "Only it's not hypocrisy when the two things aren't the same. Impersonating someone is not the same thing as parody. One is protected and the other is not," pointed out a user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.