⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

Leaked Documents Show Twitter Has Been Prioritizing 35 'VIP' Accounts The list reportedly includes a slew of different public figures.

By Emily Rella

entrepreneur daily
Getty Images

Twitter conspiracists have theorized that the social media platform and its algorithm have been prioritizing certain accounts, making their Tweets more visible and more likely to show up on user feeds even if they do not follow them.

Now, documents viewed by Platformer show that since Elon Musk's takeover, a select list of public figures (including politicians and celebrities) have been offered "increased visibility."

The list is around 35 Twitter "VIPs" long and, of course, includes Musk himself.

Related: Report: Elon Musk Says Twitter Is Valued At Less Than Half of What He Paid For It Just Days After Sending Frantic Email to Employees at 2:30 A.M.

Other notable names of boosted accounts include NBA star LeBron James, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (with whom Musk is often engaging in contentious banter on the platform), YouTube star MrBeast, President Joe Biden, and political commentator Ben Shapiro.

According to Platformer, the usernames associated with the list are programmed to be more visible than other accounts, including the ability to override part of Twitter's algorithm that's meant to stop too many posts from any singular account from being viewed.

Musk has not yet publicly commented on the alleged documents.

The news comes just days after it was revealed that Musk put Twitter at a $20 estimated valuation, a staggering $22 billion less than he paid for the company when he became sole owner last fall — though he said he hopes to get the company to eventually see a tenfold $250 billion through what he estimates will be "clear but difficult path."

Related: Twitter To Begin Removing Legacy Blue Checkmarks

Twitter and Musk also filed a lawsuit at the beginning of last weekend after finding that part of the platform's source code (the back-end code that helps the platform run as is) was leaked and posted to Github before being pulled by the hosting site.

Over the weekend, the social media platform will begin removing blue checkmarks for legacy verified users, forcing those whose profiles are not affiliated with a verified organization (a profile distinguished by a gold checkmark) to have to pay for Musk's $7.99 a month subscription service called Twitter Blue.

The removal process is set to begin on April 1.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.