In retrospect, the decision that did more to cripple Twitter as a reliable source of information was the elimination of the old verification system. While it was imperfect and implied a natural inegalitarianism it actually helped a lot to know who was really a government official or representative of an institution from whom accountability could be expected. It has since transformed into verification merely of who has paid $8 a month, as well as a marker of engagement-grifting for economic gain. It is hard to emphasize how damaging this is during a crisis where verifying accuracy of information is paramount.

Most people, including myself, continue to use Twitter out of habit and because of sunk costs and network effects of over a decade of usage. But a new social media platform should consider some form of verification system that identifies institutional associations. That is how Twitter originally became the place where official communications happened. I doubt it'd become that again from scratch today.

Writer, podcaster, and commentator on foreign affairs and politics. Runs /dropglobalnews

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