𝐒𝐨𝐭𝐚

I still vividly remember the first time I saw the blue verification badge on Twitter. My initial reaction was that it was completely unnecessary. As an ordinary user, I didn't have a strong need to apply for one, especially since it was initially only available to official accounts and influencers who paid for the feature. Therefore, I always thought that the blue badge was more of a symbolic thing, representing a kind of identity rather than any actual functionality. However, as Twitter updated its features, the blue badge became linked to a revenue system based on views. This suddenly made the blue badge much more popular. Many users began to apply for verification, hoping to increase their exposure and influence through this method. However, as the blue badge became more widespread, its misuse and abuse also increased. Many users started using the blue badge to engage in mutual followings, comment spamming, and copying and pasting content from other platforms. These behaviors not only made the blue badge seem more lowbrow but also degraded the overall atmosphere of the Twitter community. I still feel that the blue badge carries a sense of detachment. If you add the parody user tags, it's even more hypocritical. The blue badge itself already creates a sense of distance, and when combined with those intentional mimicries of user tags, it's simply self-mockery. Therefore, I've always believed that the blue badge is ultimately just a symbol, not something of substance.