What are Twitter-applied profile labels?
On a support page, Twitter has said that it applies visual identity signals like labels and badges on “account profiles to provide more context about — and help distinguish — different types of accounts.” Twitter also says that some of these labels can be triggered by user action whereas some are applied by Twitter.
The Blue tick or checkmark
If you see a blue checkmark next to an account, it may mean two things — a) the account was verified under Twitter’s previous verification criteria, or b)the account has an active subscription to Twitter’s new Twitter Blue subscription product. Twitter has categorically stated that “accounts that receive the blue checkmark as part of a Twitter Blue subscription will not undergo review to confirm that they meet the active, notable and authentic criteria that was used in the previous process.”
Gold checkmark or Twitter Blue for Business
Twitter has said that it may also different badges in account profiles to help distinguish different types of accounts. So, if you see a gold checkmark next to an account name, then it indicates that the account is an official business account through Twitter Blue for Business.
Official accounts or labels
If you see “Official” underneath an account name, then it means that it has been applied to government accounts (institutional accounts, elected or appointed officials, and multilateral organizations), certain political organisations such as political parties, commercial companies including business partners, major brands, media outlets and publishers, and some other public figures.
State-affiliated media labels and Government labels
In addition to the official label attached to government accounts, Twitter is further sub-categorising certain accounts. You will see labels that read “government account or state-affiliated profile” on accounts that are controlled by certain state-affiliated media entities and individuals closely associated with those entities.
Government labels will be applied to accounts that are “heavily engaged in geopolitics and diplomacy from main countries where Twitter operates.” A small icon of a flag is included, to signal the account’s status as a government account or of a podium for state-affiliated media
Automated or “bot” labels
Despite his quest to purge Twitter of bot and spam accounts, Twitter has added an automated account label as well. Twitter says this is being done to provide transparency. “Automated labels provide transparency by helping you identify if an account is a bot or not. When an account displays the “automated” account label you know the account is not human-run,” said Twitter on its support page.
