X

New Delhi, Micro-blogging platform Twitter has started removing blue verification badges from inactive and incomplete accounts and will begin the new verification process for its users in few weeks. Twitter, which paused its public verification process or that elusive Blue Badge three years ago, in November announced to relaunch verification, including a new public application process, in early 2021. "Last call! As part of our new verification policy, we'll remove verification badges from inactive and incomplete accounts," Twitter Safety said in a tweet. The company is reading out directly to users who have issues with their accounts. "We've reached out directly to those who need to take action to stay verified," it added. Twitter had said it would relaunch verification, including a new public application process, in early 2021. AdvertisementVerified accounts on Twitter will have a blue check next to the display name throughout the app. "When we relaunch the public application process in early 2021, there will be a link to the application in the Twitter apps and on twitter.com". Over three years ago, the platform paused the public verification programme after hearing feedback that it felt arbitrary and confusing to many people. A year later, the company deprioritised…

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Twitter said Friday it has permanently banned an account that some in Iran believe is linked to the office of the country's supreme leader after a posting that seemed to threaten former President Donald Trump. In the image posted by the suspect account late Thursday, Trump is shown playing golf in the shadow of a giant drone, with the caption "Revenge is certain" written in Farsi. In response to a request for comment from The Associated Press, a Twitter spokesperson said the account was fake and violated the company's "manipulation and spam policy," without elaborating how it came to that conclusion. The tweet of the photo violated the company's "abusive behavior policy," Twitter's spokesperson added. In Iran, the suspect account — @khamenei_site — is believed to be linked to the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because its behavior mirrored that of other accounts identified in state-run media as tied to his office. It frequently posted excerpts from his speeches and other official content. In this case, the account carried the link to Khamenei's website. Other accounts tied to Khamenei's office that did not tweet the photo, including his main English language account, remained…

Image: Screenshot/Twitter Twitter Australia has announced a joint effort with the Australian Red Cross to introduce a natural disaster and emergency search prompt. The feature will direct anyone in Australia who searches for certain keywords on Twitter, such as bushfire, flooding, and cyclone, to Australian Red Cross resources and the organisation's official Twitter account for updated information. "Staying up-to-date about emergencies is critical, whether that's tuning into local radio or seeking updates on Twitter. In a flood, fire or cyclone, when you search on Twitter, you can now more easily find Red Cross updates to check your relatives are safe, or tips on getting prepared for example," Australian Red Cross head of emergency services Andrew Coghlan said. Twitter also took the opportunity to advise users to find updates about a crisis in real time on Twitter by following other trusted sources such as @ABCemergency, @BOM_au, and local fire services, as well as using local hashtags like #QLDFloods or #NSWFires that the company said are often used to "coordinate and streamline conversation". "To ensure these hashtags remain useful, refrain from using them for unrelated topics," Twitter said. During Australia's Black Summer last year, Twitter bots and trolls used the social media…

What started as a quiet morning for the Atlanta Falcons quickly turned into a busy afternoon. Both Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich landed defensive coordinator jobs with other NFL teams. Then, the Falcons announced that all three of their coordinator vacancies had been filled. Dave Ragone, the former Chicago Bears QBs/passing game coach, was named as Atlanta’s offensive coordinator. Dean Pees, the former Tennessee Titans and Ravens assistant coach, will serve as the team’s defensive coordinator. And last but not least, Marquice Williams, the former Detroit Lions special teams assistant, will be the Falcons’ new special teams coordinator. Let’s check in on Twitter to see how people are reacting to Atlanta’s latest hires. Arthur Smith's staff is beginning to take shape. #Falcons have named Dave Ragone as offensive coordinator, Dean Pees as defensive coordinator and Marquice Williams as special teams coordinator. The team will retain wide receivers coach Dave Brock. #RiseUpATL #NewEra https://t.co/ZL5tACASEn — Tenitra Batiste (@tenitrabatiste) January 21, 2021 Arthur Smith said he was gonna take his time and hired his coordinators 3 days later lol https://t.co/nBMubPd7DQ — carter landis (@CarterLandis3) January 21, 2021 I mean I’m already a Falcons fan but it’s even more special now! So happy…

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Ankara has imposed advertising bans on Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest after they failed to appoint local representatives in Turkey under a new social media law, according to decisions published on Tuesday.Under the law, which critics say stifles dissent, social media companies that do not appoint such representatives are liable for a series of penalties, including the latest move by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK).The law allows authorities to remove content from platforms, rather than blocking access as they did in the past. It has caused concern as people turn more to online platforms after Ankara tightened its grip on mainstream media.The latest decisions in the country’s Official Gazette said the advertising bans went into effect from Tuesday. Twitter, its live-streaming app Periscope, and image sharing app Pinterest were not immediately available to comment.Deputy Transport Minister Omer Fatih Sayan said Twitter and Pinterest’s bandwidth would be cut by 50% in April and by 90% in May. Twitter said last month it would shut down Periscope by March due to declining usage.“We are determined to do whatever is necessary to protect the data, privacy and rights of our nation,” Sayan said on Twitter. “We will never allow…

Cubs fans lose minds on Twitter over Lester news originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago Let’s hope Cubs fans took advantage of Jon Lester’s free round of drinks while they could. NBC Sports Lester, one of the biggest free agent signings in Cubs –and Chicago—history, is headed to the Washington Nationals. He is signing a one-year deal with a mutual option, pending a physical, according to multiple reports. Lester signed with the Cubs on Dec. 15, 2014 and made an immediate impact, helping vault the Cubs to the NLCS in his first season and a World Series title the year after. The fan favorite also earned two All Star bids during his time on the North Side. As expected, Cubs fans are…well…not happy to see him go. Jon Lester signing with the Nationals and not finishing his career with the Cubs is sad.Cubs re-signing Jon Lester for 2021+ wasn't exactly making anything better for the team.There are a lot of emotions stirring around and yeah, things stink for the Cubs right now.— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) January 19, 2021 Beyond disappointing the Cubs offer to Jon Lester came very late in the process and was not close to the money the…

Maya Hari has made a name for herself as the second woman to head Twitter's Asia-Pacific operations. As vice president for APAC, she is responsible for overseeing the social media company's tech operations, managing its business divisions, and increasingly, dealing with its sociopolitical concerns. But the India-born engineer, who has worked her way up the tech industry, said reaching that position was all aided by discovering one "superpower" early on in her career. "While I understood technology and engineering really well, possibly my superpower in retrospect was being able to explain the technology to people who didn't understand it," Hari told CNBC Make It. "I realized I absolutely love technology, and that's still my first love till date, but I could certainly make the best impact I could being that communicator," she said. Becoming a risk-taker Hari said that realization went on to become a "cornerstone" of her career, leading her to where she is today. An engineer by training, she worked for several years in high tech roles in Silicon Valley, before moving to Singapore in 2005 to complete her MBA. Later, she returned to her native India, and spent eight years working in marketing and general management roles…

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Western Colorado’s congresswoman, Lauren Boebert of Rifle, has been sued in federal court for blocking one of her constituents on Twitter. The lawsuit comes one day after Boebert’s spokesperson resigned, just two weeks into her term.Boebert’s constituents in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District include all of the Western Slope, and cities including Grand Junction and Pueblo.The lawsuit against Boebert was filed by Bri Buentello, a former Democratic representative from Pueblo. Boebert, a Republican, has blocked Buentello and several other constituents on Twitter, which the former state rep believes is a violation of her 1st Amendment rights. According to the lawsuit, constituents who are blocked by Boebert can not view any of her tweets, which include matters of public policy.Boebert’s Twitter account was also temporarily suspended after she spread multiple false claims about the 2020 presidential election. Some people on the Western Slope are unhappy with their congresswoman.“Her speech and rhetoric is aggressive and harmful,” says Jodi Mimmack, a former Grand Junction resident who now lives in Denver. Mimmack cited Congresswoman Boebert’s tweets on January 6th, prior to and during the riots at the U.S. Capitol. “Instead of trying to thing about things that matter in Western…

opinionBrian Ott and Greg Dickinson  |  Savannah Morning NewsThis is an op-ed by Brian L. Ott, a professor and head of the Department of Communication at Missouri State University, and Greg Dickinson, a professor and dean of the Department of Communication Studies at Colorado State University.Twitter's decision to permanently ban President Donald Trump from its platform is, on first blush, somewhat surprising. After all, for more than four years, Twitter has twisted itself into pretzels trying to justify why it was not banning him for clear violations of its policies (against hate and incitement to violence). It even invented a whole new set of rules about world leaders to justify its tortured decision not to ban Trump. So, historically, Twitter has been reluctant to hold Trump responsible for his speech, likely because he was their most notorious user. Simply put, Trump was good for business.After the violent insurrection at our nation’s Capitol last Wednesday, which was clearly incited by Trump, he was no longer good for business. Under growing public pressure, Twitter, like Facebook the day before, closed Trump’s infamous account and issued this statement to justify its decision: “After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and…

It's Sajal Ahad Mir's birthday and her fans are celebrating their favourite actor for who she is. From Alif to Aangan and all the way to her screen-grabbing presence in Yeh Dil Mera, the girl is a powerhouse of talent, no questions asked. Only this week, she added another feather to her cap by officially joining the star-studded cast of Jemima Goldsmith's romantic comedy film, What’s Love Got To Do With It. As she turns a year older, audiences from around the globe took to Twitter to wish her on her special day. An inspiration onstage And in real life too Even those across the border agree Truly, our nation's pride We Stan Guilty Queen And the world agrees