Twitter's verification system changed in 2023, and now a blue check means you paid for it, not that Twitter confirmed your identity

Until November 2022, Twitter's blue checkmark was something you requested and Twitter granted if they believed you were a public figure, journalist, or notable account worth protecting from impersonation. That system is gone. Today, the blue check is a paid subscription feature called Twitter Blue (or X Premium, depending on where you access it). Anyone with a payment method can buy it for $8 per month on web, $11 per month on iPhone, or $11 per month on Android. The check no longer signals that Twitter has verified who you are — it signals that you have paid a monthly fee.

If you want a blue check now, you subscribe to Twitter Blue. If you want Twitter to actually verify your identity for security reasons, that is a separate process that does not give you a visible checkmark and is not available to most users.

Key Takeaways

  • The blue checkmark now requires a paid subscription ($8 to $11 per month depending on your device) and does not mean Twitter has verified your identity.
  • Twitter's old verification system, which confirmed public figures and journalists, ended in November 2022 and was replaced entirely by the paid subscription model.
  • If you want to verify your identity for account security (two-factor authentication, recovery options), that is a different process that does not produce a visible badge.
  • Accounts that impersonate others or violate Twitter's rules can lose their blue check, even if they are paying subscribers.

How to subscribe to Twitter Blue and get the blue checkmark

On the web version of Twitter, click your profile picture in the top left corner, then select "Monetization" or "Premium" from the menu. You will see an option to subscribe to Twitter Blue. Click it, and Twitter will ask you to confirm your payment method. The subscription costs $8 per month and renews automatically.

On iPhone or Android, open the Twitter app, tap your profile picture, go to "Settings and privacy," then "Subscriptions," and select Twitter Blue. The mobile price is $11 per month because Apple and Google take a cut of in-app purchases. Once you subscribe, the blue check appears on your profile within minutes.

You do not need to be famous, verified by any organization, or notable in any way. The only requirements are that your account is at least 90 days old, you have a phone number on file, and you have not violated Twitter's rules in the past month. If your account is brand new or has been suspended recently, you will not be able to subscribe yet.

What the blue check does and does not do

The blue check is a badge that appears next to your name on your profile and next to your posts in feeds and replies. It tells other users that you are a paying subscriber. It does not tell them that you are who you claim to be, that you are a public figure, that you are a journalist, or that Twitter has investigated you in any way.

Twitter Blue also includes other features beyond the checkmark: the ability to edit posts for 30 minutes after posting, longer posts (up to 4,000 characters instead of 280), the option to upload longer videos, and a bookmark folder system. These features come with the subscription whether or not you care about the checkmark itself.

The blue check can be removed if you violate Twitter's rules, impersonate someone, or engage in spam or harassment. Twitter has suspended the blue checks of accounts that broke these rules even though they were paying subscribers, so the checkmark is not a permanent badge just because you pay.

The difference between a blue check and account verification

Account verification — the process of confirming your identity for security purposes — is not the same as the blue checkmark. When you verify your account, you are setting up two-factor authentication or confirming your phone number and email address. This protects your account from being hacked or taken over, but it produces no visible badge.

To set up two-factor authentication on Twitter, go to "Settings and privacy," then "Security and account access," then "Security." You can choose to receive codes by text message or through an authentication app like Google Authenticator or Authy. This step is free and recommended for any account you care about, but most users do not do it.

Some organizations and government agencies have accounts with a different kind of badge — a gold or gray checkmark — that Twitter assigns directly to confirm the account belongs to that organization. These are not for sale and are not available to individuals.

Why Twitter changed the verification system

Elon Musk bought Twitter in October 2022 and immediately announced that the blue checkmark would become a paid feature. His stated reason was that the old system was exclusive and that paying for verification would make it available to anyone. The change was controversial because it meant that impersonators could now pay for a checkmark and appear more credible, and because it removed the distinction between verified public figures and paying subscribers.

In the months after the change, several high-profile impersonation incidents occurred — accounts paid for blue checks and then posted as if they were celebrities or companies, sometimes causing stock prices to move or spreading false information. Twitter added rules against impersonation and began removing blue checks from accounts that violated them, but the damage to the checkmark's meaning was already done.

Alternatives if you do not want to pay for a blue check

If you want to build credibility on Twitter without paying for a subscription, the main option is to build a following and post consistently. Accounts with large followings and a history of good information are trusted by other users even without a checkmark. Some users put their credentials or affiliations directly in their bio — for example, "journalist at The New York Times" or "researcher at MIT" — so followers know who they are without relying on a badge.

If you are a journalist, academic, or work for a government agency, you can contact Twitter's support team to request a gray or gold checkmark instead of a blue one. These are assigned by Twitter directly and are not for sale, but they are also rare and Twitter is selective about who receives them.

You can also use other platforms that still have verification systems based on identity confirmation rather than payment. Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon all have different approaches to verification, though none of them have Twitter's user base.

What happens if you stop paying for Twitter Blue

If you subscribe to Twitter Blue and then cancel your subscription, your blue checkmark disappears immediately. Your account remains active and your posts stay up, but the badge is gone. If you resubscribe later, the checkmark comes back.

Canceling is simple: go to "Settings and privacy," then "Subscriptions," find Twitter Blue, and select "Cancel subscription." Twitter will ask you to confirm, and the cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle. You will not be charged again after that date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a blue check if my account is brand new?

No. Your account must be at least 90 days old before you can subscribe to Twitter Blue. Twitter also requires that you have not been suspended in the past month and that you have a phone number on file. If your account is too new, Twitter will tell you when you can subscribe.

What if I get suspended after I buy a blue check?

If your account is suspended for violating Twitter's rules, your blue check is removed along with your ability to post. If the suspension is temporary, the check returns when your account is restored. If the suspension is permanent, you lose the check and your subscription is not refunded.

Do I need a blue check to use Twitter?

No. The blue check is optional and purely cosmetic (aside from the other Twitter Blue features like longer posts and edit buttons). You can use Twitter fully without ever subscribing, and most users do not have a checkmark.

Can someone impersonate me if they buy a blue check?

Yes, they can try, but Twitter's rules prohibit impersonation and the platform removes blue checks from accounts that do it. If someone impersonates you, report the account to Twitter and include evidence of the impersonation. Twitter takes these reports seriously, especially if the fake account is spreading false information.

Is Twitter Blue the same as X Premium?

Yes. After Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X in 2023, the subscription was renamed X Premium, but it is the same service and the same price. The blue checkmark is still called the blue check regardless of the platform name.