Excerpt:
Social media users have long considered Twitter's coveted blue check mark an online status symbol.
While formally used as a way to visually display that Twitter has confirmed a given user's identity, marketing specialists say that the little blue check mark is immense advantage to promoting one's brand and message.
Twitter says verified accounts are those viewed as being in the "public interest," and emphasizes "users in music, acting, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports, business, and other key interest areas."