×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Read Offline Anywhere
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Twitter verification debate explained

Twitter's blue checkmark. [iStockphoto]

The story of Twitter's blue checkmarks - a simple verification system that's come to be viewed as an elite status symbol - began with some high-profile impersonations, just as the site began taking off in 2008 and '09.

Celebrities who saw their likeness spoofed included Kanye West, now Ye, the basketball star Shaquille O'Neil and the actor Ewan McGregor, who was also impersonated on a wildly popular website called ... MySpace.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week
Unlock the Full Story — Join Thousands of Informed Kenyans Today
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in