Twitter's Verification Checkmark Policy Causes Controversy Among Celebrities

Twitter has added verified check marks to the accounts of deceased celebrities, including Kobe Bryant, Anthony Bourdain, Chadwick Boseman, and Michael Jackson, indicating that they had purchased a Twitter Blue subscription and verified their phone numbers. The move is seen as an attempt to promote the unpopular subscription service, which has earned the social media platform just $11 million in mobile-based subscriptions since its relaunch in December. However, the posthumous Twitter Blue badges may violate laws protecting consumers from false endorsements.