Dia Mirza asks Twitter Why She doesn’t have a Blue Tick Despite Paying for it?

Twitter’s new paid verification service, which allows users to purchase a blue tick for their accounts, has sparked a controversy among some celebrities and influencers who claim they have been unfairly deprived of their verified status.

One of them is Dia Mirza, a popular Bollywood actress and environmental activist, who tweeted on Sunday that her account doesn’t have a blue tick yet, despite her subscription.

What is Twitter’s paid verification service?

Twitter launched its paid verification service in April this year, as part of its premium subscription plan called Twitter Blue. The service costs $2.99 per month and offers users various features such as undo tweets, bookmark folders, reader mode, and custom app icons.

However, the most coveted feature is the blue tick, which signifies that an account is authentic and of public interest. Twitter had paused its public verification program in 2017, after facing criticism for verifying the account of a white supremacist. It resumed the program in May this year but with stricter criteria and guidelines.

According to Twitter, users who want to apply for verification must belong to one of the six categories: government, companies, brands and organizations, news organizations and journalists, entertainment, sports and gaming, or activists, organizers, and other influential individuals.

They must also have a complete profile with a profile name, image, and confirmed email address or phone number; be active on Twitter in the last six months; and adhere to Twitter’s rules and policies.

Why are some accounts losing their blue ticks?

Twitter has said that it may remove the blue tick from accounts that are inactive or incomplete, or that violate its rules or that engage in severe violations that result in immediate suspension.

It has also said that it may remove the blue tick from accounts that no longer meet its updated criteria for verification. For example, if an account changes its username or switches categories.

However, some users have complained that their accounts have lost their blue ticks without any explanation or warning from Twitter. They have also alleged that Twitter is favoring certain users over others based on their political views or popularity.

For instance, several Indian celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Virat Kohli, and Shah Rukh Khan lost their blue ticks on April 21. Twitter later restored them and said it was due to a technical issue.

How did people react to Dia Mirza’s tweet?

Dia Mirza’s tweet seeking help from Twitter received mixed responses from her followers. Some offered suggestions or sympathy, while others questioned her need for a blue tick or mocked her for paying for it.

Filmmaker Amoghavarsha wrote:

Another follower wrote:-

A fan replied, “You don’t need a blue tick. Everyone knows you. You are a good soul.”

What is Dia Mirza up to these days?

Dia Mirza is not only known for her acting career but also for her social and environmental activism. She is a United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador and a United Nations Secretary-General Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals.

She recently welcomed her first child with her husband Vaibhav Rekhi, a son named Avyaan. She shared pictures from his birthday bash on Monday.

On the work front, Dia will soon be seen in Dhak Dhak sharing screen with Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanjana Sanghi. Helmed by Tarun Dudeja, the film narrates an adventurous story of a road trip undertaken by a girl gang.