Elon Musk, the ‘Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator’, went straight for Twitter’s verification system after its acquisition, charging users an $8/month fee for its infamous ‘blue tick’, bringing it to eligible subscribers for the “price of a Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX)”.
In a tweet, Musk calls for a change in the conventional “lords & peasants’ system” where blue ticks were only offered to users or businesses who are prominent.
Dubbed Twitter Blue, the new ‘blue tick’ will only be available to subscribers who are willing to shell out.
Twitter Blue members will also be able to post long videos and audio, a move that seems like a way to attract more creators to the subscription.
What’s more, additional benefits are also on the cards, which include half the number of ads and priority in tweet replies, mentions and search.
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.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
Previous system
Twitter’s previous verification system dished out the 'blue tick' mark to prominent users via its criteria, with users being able to apply for the verified badge across multiple categories for both individuals as well as organisations.
Predominantly, these were awarded to notable figures, celebrities and organisations that were in the spotlight.
This process was also free and users who had applied for the blue tick or the ones who were deemed eligible for one were not charged and users could also reapply once every 30 days.
pic.twitter.com/BYOBGBHOUA— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022
What’s more?
Twitter Blue will comprise a paywall bypass feature that will work with publishers that collaborate with Twitter.
It isn’t very clear how the priority in replies, mentions and search perks will work but many Twitter users also seem disappointed with the idea that the tweets and profiles of paying verified members will take preference over those without a blue tick.
Musk has also suggested that there will be a secondary tag for public figures below their name.
This is expected to be a secondary badge and may be an addition to the blue tick for notable users.
There will be a secondary tag below the name for someone who is a public figure, which is already the case for politicians— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022