Elon Musk announced Sunday that any Twitter account impersonating another would be permanently suspended.

Twitter issued the warning after some minor celebrities changed their Twitter display names and pretended to tweet as ‘Elon Musk’ in response to the decision to offer verified blue check accounts for $8 per month while terminating a large portion of the workforce.

“Any Twitter handles engaging in impersonating another person without clearly mentioning “parody” will be permanently suspended going forward,” Musk posted.

Twitter offered warnings before suspensions. Now that “blue check verification” is being implemented on the platform, “there will be no warning.”

Unter Twitter’s new guidelines, “any name change at all” would necessitate the temporary loss of a confirmed checkmark.

Kathy Griffin’s account was terminated on Sunday after she changed her screen name to Musk. She admitted to Bloomberg News that she had also used his profile photo.

“I suppose not all of the content moderators were fired?” “Lol,” Griffin laughed later on Mastodon, an alternative social media network where she had created an account.

Actress Valerie Bertinelli similarly used Musk’s screen name, tweeting in support of Democratic candidates on Saturday before reverting to her real identity. “Okey-dokey. “I had a good time, and I hope I made my point,” she tweeted.

Valerie Bertinelli noted the original purpose of the blue check before the prank was given away for free to those whose identities Twitter workers confirmed, with journalists making up a large share of the receivers.

“It just meant that your identification has been validated.” Scammers would have a more difficult time imitating you,” Bertinelli observed.

“That is no longer true. “Best of luck out there!” She continued.

Musk believes that the $8 verified accounts are his approach to democratizing the service. Users of Twitter who sign up for the new “Twitter Blue with verification” can obtain the blue check next to their names “exactly like the celebrities, companies, and politicians you currently follow,” according to a Twitter update for iOS devices featured on Apple’s app store on Saturday.

It stated that the new service would be available in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. As of Sunday, it was unavailable, and no timetable was provided.

Esther Crawford, a Twitter employee, told The Associated Press that it will be available “soon but not yet.”

On Sunday, Twitter did not respond to an email requesting comment on the verified accounts issue and Griffin’s suspension.

Musk later tweeted, “Twitter must become the most accurate global information source.” That is our goal.”

If the firm removes blue checks from current verified users — which has not happened — this might encourage disinformation on the platform during Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Following layoffs on Friday that affected roughly half of Twitter’s 7,500-employee workforce, some Twitter users, like Kathy Griffin, have already begun migrating away from the platform.

They say they are concerned that moderation and verification will result in a free-for-all of disinformation on the internet’s primary channel for accurate communications from government agencies and other institutions.

Many businesses have delayed advertising on the platform for fear of being subject to cancellation by the cancel culture that previously lived on Twitter.

In a Friday message, Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of safety and integrity, attempted to allay such fears. He claimed that the employment reduction had the least impact on the company’s front-line content moderation team.

Musk said late Friday that there was no choice but to slash positions “when the firm is losing over $4 million per day.” He did not share specifics on Twitter’s daily losses, but he did say that employees who were let go were given three months’ pay as severance.

Now that Elon Musk controls Twitter Inc., a small but rising number of celebrities, actresses, and artists are leaving the social media platform, citing concerns about what it could become under Mr. Musk’s leadership.

These people say they can’t wait to see what improvements Mr. Musk brings. Of course, it remains to be seen whether these celebs will keep their promises to stay away from the platform, which has over 237 million members.

In a series of tweets this month, Mr. Musk stated that people who have been booted from Twitter for breaking the rules would not be let back until the firm has a clear process. He estimated that it would take at least a few weeks to implement.

Here is a WSJ list of some well-known people who have stated their intention to leave Twitter:

Sara Bareilles

The 42-year-old singer, known for hits such as “Brave” and “King of Anything,” announced on Twitter that she would see fans on other platforms.

“Welp. Twitter has been entertaining. “I’m out,” she tweeted, adding, “This one’s just not for me.”

Toni Braxton

“I’m startled and dismayed at some of the ‘free speech I’ve witnessed on this platform since its acquisition,” said Ms. Braxton, a 55-year-old R&B performer best known for her song “Un-Break My Heart.”

“I am opting to stay off Twitter because it is no longer a safe platform for myself, my sons, and other POC,” she wrote on Twitter, referring to people of colour.

Gigi Hadid

The 27-year-old model stated that she had cancelled her account, which had over 10.4 million followers. She stated that she did not believe Twitter was a secure environment for anyone.

“For a long time, but especially under its new leadership, it’s become a sewer of hate and prejudice,” she wrote in an Instagram message.

Téa Leoni

The actress, 56, is best known for her role in the CBS sitcom “Madam Secretary,” as well as other films and television shows.

“I’m leaving Twitter today—see, let’s where we are when the dust settles,” she tweeted. “Today’s dust has uncovered much too much hatred.”

Brian Koppelman

Mr. Koppelman, the showrunner of “Billions,” said his followers could find him on Instagram and TikTok in the days before Mr. Musk concluded his deal with Twitter.

Mr. Koppelman, 56, remarked on Twitter, “Gonna truly attempt to take a breather from here for a minute or a month come deal closure time.”

Ken Olin

“Hey everyone—I’m out of here,” the 68-year-old actor and producer of shows such as “This Is Us” tweeted. “Let us maintain our faith. Let us defend our democracy.”

Shonda Rhimes

“Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned,” the 52-year-old showrunner and producer behind successful shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” posted on Twitter. Bye.”

Here are some notable persons that have stated that they are considering leaving Twitter:

Josh Gad

The 41-year-old actor, best known for his role as Olaf in “Frozen” films, said he was thinking about staying on Twitter but wasn’t sure.

“Hate speech intended to inspire harm (with no consequences),” he said on the platform.

Since then, he has frequently tweeted.

John Green

The 45-year-old novelist and YouTube sensation has joked that he wants to stop using Twitter but hasn’t been able to.

“Some of you may be wondering why I’m still on Twitter,” he wrote. “It’s because I follow a strict code of etiquette known as ‘The Brexit,’ which requires me to publicize my departure for at least a year before I leave.”

Stephen King

The 75-year-old prolific author finds himself at the centre of Mr. Musk’s fight over charging a monthly fee for verified users.

“If that is implemented, I’m gone like Enron,” he tweeted. Mr. Musk said that his company needed to pay its expenses somehow. Mr. Musk later said that Twitter would implement the fee. Mr. King has remained active on Twitter since then.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg announced her departure from the app on Monday’s episode of “The View” while defining Musk’s first week at the company as “a catastrophe.”

“I’m leaving today because I just feel like it’s so messed up, and I’m weary of having certain sorts of attitudes blocked now that I’m back on.” So I’m going to go, and if things calm down sufficiently and I feel more at ease, I might return. But I’m done with Twitter as of tonight.”

Source: AP, VOR News