But the very factors that make this status appealing — it’s free, easy to get, and says something about you — are the same ones that have led to the swift backlash against it. As an increasing number of users have opted in to the label, some with less than 1,000 followers and others with more than 5,000, their followers have taken to Twitter to condemn the act, calling those who use it pretentious stupid , and tool-ish . It's been deemed a stereotypical marker of a “ wannabe influencer ” rather than a legitimate sign that someone has made it in the truest social media sense of the word. It isn’t even clear why someone who isn’t verified should be able to call themselves a “public figure” since real public figures are at risk of impersonation.