Twitter’s new paid-for verification feature, Twitter Blue, is being used by the Taliban. The blue tick, which previously indicated “active, notable, and authentic accounts of public interest” verified by Twitter, can now be purchased through Twitter Blue. At least two Taliban officials and four prominent supporters in Afghanistan have obtained the blue tick. This has led to controversy, with former US President Donald Trump stating in October 2021 that “We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favorite American President has been silenced. This is unacceptable.” The Twitter Blue service, which was introduced in December, costs $8 per month, or $11 for those using the app on Apple devices. It allows users to benefit from “priority ranking in search, mentions, and replies” to help fight spam and bots.