Elon Musk Ruffles William Shatner’s Feathers (And He Has Some Words)

A new policy at Twitter has caused a bit of controversy.

William Shatner is not thrilled about one of Elon Musk's new Twitter policies.

So he posted a comment on Twitter publicly announcing his displeasure.

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At issue is the new company action regarding Twitter Blue, the paid subscription that adds a blue checkmark to users' accounts.

Before Musk purchased Twitter, the blue check was free and was given to prominent politicians, businesses, journalists and personalities.

Now, the blue badge costs $7.99 per month. But those users who previously had the blue checkmark accompanying their accounts, before Twitter started charging for it, were allowed to keep it for a grace period.

That grace period is over as of April 1, when all legacy checkmarks will disappear.

"Hey @elonmusk, what’s this about blue checks going away unless we pay Twitter? I’ve been here for 15 years giving my time and witty thoughts all for bupkis," tweeted Shatner. "Now you’re telling me that I have to pay for something you gave me for free? What is this -- the Colombia Records and Tape Club?"

The advantage of checkmarks is that it signals to platform users that the information posted by the account comes from the individual or organization claiming to be behind the account.

In theory, the checkmark helps to vouch for the reliability of an account's tweets.

Twitter users reacted to Shatner's comment.

"You've been such a delight to read on Twitter, @WilliamShatner," tweeted @jsatz. "But Musk is riding this company down like Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove, and is doing things along the way that are destroying what made the site worth reading and posting to."

"I was here to read William Shatner’s tweets exclusively," wrote @Pat_Kc. "Without Shatner Twitter is worth nothing."

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