As the world’s richest man takes over Twitter, several changes are taking place at the social media company. The biggest once was announced by Elon Musk on Tuesday as he said that Twitter's Blue tick, which 'verifies' a user, will now be available at a cost of USD 8 per month.
"Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit. Power to the people! Blue for $8/month," he tweeted.
Musk also said that price will be adjusted by country proportionate to purchasing power parity. He added that verified Twitter users will also get priority in replies, mentions & search, which is essential to defeat spam/scam. They will also be able to post long video and audio and will see half as many ads.
"You will also get: - Priority in replies, mentions & search, which is essential to defeat spam/scam - Ability to post long video & audio - Half as many ads," Musk wrote.
The tweet comes amid speculation that Twitter may soon start charging verified users a monthly fee for the blue ticks on their handles.
There had been much speculation over the monthly fee over the past few days, with some reports claiming it will be around USD 5 per month to others putting it as high as USD 20.
For the uninitiated, the Twitter Blue subscription is already available in select countries and offers its subscribers access to some unique features. For instance, the ability to edit tweets is currently limited to those with a Twitter Blue subscription.
The Blue Tick is a prized feature on Twitter, and is usually added to the account handle after a verification process. The verified badge signifies that the account really belongs to the said person or organisation, which is critical when it comes to differentiating between genuine and parody accounts.
For instance, there are many parody accounts for celebrities, journalists, politicians and heads of state. But the ‘Blue tick’ makes it clear that the account is authentic and handled by the said person or organisation. This also explains why so many users are not comfortable paying for this feature.
Last week, Musk’s takeover of the social media company for $44 billion concluded a months-long saga. He has dissolved Twitter’s board of directors after his takeover of the company, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing on Monday. Musk, according to the filing, became “the sole director of Twitter", reported CNN.
It confirmed that instead of joining Twitter’s board of directors, Elon Musk is now their sole replacement. “On October 27, 2022, and as a result of the consummation of the Merger, Musk became the sole director of Twitter," read the filing.
