"Twitter's Blue Check Controversy Sparks Outrage Among Celebrities and VIPs"

Twitter users, including celebrities and journalists, who were verified for free with a blue check mark may lose their status if they don't pay up to $11 a month for a premium subscription. Twitter's CEO, Elon Musk, has been pushing for more people to pay for the service, arguing that the blue check marks have become an undeserved status symbol for elite personalities and news reporters. However, some users, including William Shatner and Monica Lewinsky, have balked at the idea of paying for something that was previously free. The blue check marks were originally introduced to verify politicians, activists, and people who suddenly find themselves in the news, as well as little-known journalists at small publications around the globe, as an extra tool to curb misinformation coming from accounts that are impersonating people.