It’s strange how one small icon managed to convince so many people that it meant something massive. A few years ago, seeing that blue tick next to someone’s name felt like spotting a celebrity in a crowd. It seemed earned, not handed out. People had this idea that the badge came after actual work, attention, or at least some baseline relevance.

2023: The Year Paid Verification Turned Everything Upside Down

Then early 2023 happened, and everything flipped. Platforms basically said, “Here, just pay and you can have it.” And people went wild. It felt like half the internet lost its mind. Folks who never cared about posting suddenly wanted the tick just to feel like they belonged to some elite corner of social media. It was almost funny watching that rush unfold.

The Magic Faded Faster Than Anyone Expected

But once everyone could buy the badge, nobody cared anymore. The charm was gone. When something meant to be exclusive shows up everywhere, it stops being special. People eventually realised what had happened: the tick wasn’t a reward—it was just another add-on you could purchase like extra storage or a streaming subscription.

The “Royalty” Illusion Is Pretty Much Dust Now

These days, the tick barely holds meaning. You see it and your brain doesn’t assume credibility or talent—it just thinks, “Ah, subscription.” The entire royalty effect that people once chased is evaporating. Honestly, it shows how fragile that hype always was.

What Actually Matters Now

If anything, this shift dragged everyone back to the basics: people only stick around if you’re offering something they actually want. A badge won’t hold their attention for more than two seconds.

Conclusion: The Badge Lost Its Throne

The blue tick may still exist, but the crown isn’t sitting on it anymore. Status built on money was always going to collapse. Real influence still comes from effort not from monthly subscription.