Chris TrottierFeb 22, 2023

As @JosephMenn reports, Russian propagandists are eager buyers of Twitter Blue.

This is because Twitter Blue privileges their posts in Twitter's relevancy algorithm, ensuring their propaganda achieves more reach.

It also gives them a fancy blue badge.

Russian propagandists aren't the only bad dudes buying Twitter Blue. A few months ago, I discovered that the Taliban are also paying for the service.

Twitter Blue: loved by Putin and the Taliban!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/02/22/russian-propagandists-said-buy-twitter-blue-check-verifications/

Russian propagandists are buying Twitter blue-check verifications

As the Ukraine war enters its second year, the presence of accounts pushing Russian propaganda on Twitter has skyrocketed.

The Washington Post
Show threadShannon
@atomicpoet @JosephMenn Not only that, they can get their accounts reinstated when they are suspended or locked. They are paying to post foul content and keep their accounts. I suspect they'll be able to demand their rule breaking tweets stay up as well. I know this to be true. A Russia supporting account that posts endless posts that are against the rules got locked for a week and then complained to Twitter and they reinstated him. He bragged about it. He is blue.
Feb 23, 2023 at 4:45amWeb