Because he can’t get over that joke, Elon Musk stated that Twitter will finally take action to remove the legacy blue checkmarks on April 20 or 4/20. The “final date,” he declared in a tweet, is now. If the change is implemented, only paying users, corporations, government agencies, and authorities will be able to utilise Twitter’s verification marks.

Initially disclosed by the firm last month, the removal of legacy checkmarks on April 1 is effective immediately. But as with other deadlines Musk mentioned, the date passed with little action taken.

When asked how removing verification marks might affect the dissemination of misinformation, Elon Musk responded, “I think the media is a driver of misinformation much more than the media would like to admit that they are.”

Earlier this month, Musk noted that the business will provide legacy verified accounts “a few weeks grace” in a now-deleted tweet.

Musk also stated last month that starting on April 15, Twitter will no longer recommend unverified accounts on its “For You” algorithmic timeline. The label that appears when someone taps on the verification mark has recently been updated to “This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue or is a legacy verified account.” Due to this, it became more difficult for users to distinguish between Twitter Blue subscribers and old verified accounts.

According to reports, the social network is also developing government ID verification, which will enable Twitter Blue members to conceal their checkmarks.

Musk has also pushed for media companies and enterprises to pay the $1,000 monthly fee for organisational verification. He removed the verification mark after The New York Times declined to pay for it. The Washington Post and Politico, in addition to the New York Times, have also stated that they will not pay any fees for verification.