Twitter has finally caught up with the times.
In a splashy move Saturday that was as important for its symbolism as it was for its technical consequences, the social media giant under the ownership of Elon Musk stripped The New York Times of its coveted verification checkmark, reducing the reach of the Times’ poisonous tweets that already carry more influence than the “paper of record” deserves.
Then Musk tweeted a gloriously justified insult, adding to the technological injury.
To be clear, it isn’t the Times alone that was targeted. The Times itself reported on Friday that the development was looming, under the not-at-all-sensational headline, “Twitter’s Blue Check Apocalypse Is Upon Us. Here’s What to Know,” and noted that the Times could have kept its blue checkmark if it had paid Musk’s price.
Other news organizations are likely going to find themselves in a similar situation, according to a Washington Post report Sunday.
The NYT should be renamed “.The Paper of Broken Record.”
The Gray Lady is a more cadaverous shade of gray every day.
The times is nothing without twitter.
Legacy Blue Checks from previous Twitter management are going away. Those desiring one going forward need to pay $8 month for the distinction. Apparently NYT thought they should get comped because they’re so self important.
Go, Elon!
Money, the true root of all problems.