Twitter introduced its verified blue-check system in 2009.
The verification system was created to help distinguish authentic accounts belonging to notable people and organizations from impersonators. It became especially important for public figures, entertainers, athletes, journalists, companies, and government institutions whose names could be copied by other users.
Twitter introduced verification after a legal dispute involving Tony La Russa, whose name had been used by an impersonating account. The platform’s blue badge became a visual signal that Twitter had confirmed an account’s authenticity under its then-current criteria.
The meaning of the check changed substantially after Elon Musk’s acquisition and Twitter’s later rebranding as X. Under newer systems, paid subscription and other eligibility rules became central, so a blue check no longer carries exactly the same implication as the original verification program. The 2009 date refers to the system’s introduction, not later policy changes.