Twitter will add ‘official’ badge to high-profile accounts

This makes a lot of sense. The whole 'Blue Checkmark' thing got a bit out of hand. A bio/show page level indicator for after-the-fact verification of actual high end celebrity and elected politician accounts (not random nobody journalists/activists/friends of Twitter employees/etc) makes more sense.

Although most likely they'll probably just keep the existing set of verified users around because it's easier than starting over. Just like they've kept the existing moderation system in the meantime.

It should be a very limited mark of credibility, not a luxury gateway to "I'm an influencer" status for randoms. I'm sure it started that way originally, with good intentions, just like the moderation system. But this is why developing a strong culture of resisting impulses is important.