Twitter has suspended allowing people to sign up for its paid subscription feature that awards blue checkmarks amid a flood of fake accounts, just days after it launched the controversial feature.
A letter to Twitter employees sent Thursday night said it has decided to temporarily disable subscriptions to Twitter Blue, its new $7.99 offer that allows accounts to receive a blue check mark. The pause was intended to “help address phishing issues,” according to the note, The Washington Post reported.
Several new accounts with a blue check mark appeared this week posing as politicians, celebrities and brands, including President Biden, after the new show launched on Wednesday. It’s part of Elon Musk’s plan to create more revenue streams following his $44 billion acquisition of the site two weeks ago.