Twitter updates app to start charging for blue checkmark
Move signals Elon Musk’s first major revision of the social media platform
NEW YORK: Twitter on Saturday updated its app in Apple’s App Store to begin charging US$8 (RM38) for sought-after blue check verification marks, in Elon Musk’s first major revision of the social media platform.
The change comes a week after Musk took over the social media company in a US$44 billion deal. The billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of electric car maker Tesla cut half the staff at Twitter and has vowed to start charging users more.
In an update to Apple iOS devices, Twitter said those who “sign up now” for US$7.99 a month can receive the blue checkmark next to their user names, “just like the celebrities, companies and politicians you already follow”.
Before Musk took over, blue checkmarks next to a person’s user name meant Twitter confirmed the account belonged to the person or company claiming it. It was not immediately clear how or if Twitter planned to verify the identity of the user beyond charging a fee.
According to the iOS notification, other benefits in the update include “half the ads”, the ability to post longer videos to Twitter and priority ranking for quality content.
Twitter and Musk, via Tesla, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Twitter’s new boss flagged the updates earlier in the week in his push to monetise the
social media network and make it less reliant on ads. Twitter is currently free for most users.
Twitter’s update said the new service with verification will be available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
“As soon as we confirm it’s working well in the initial set of countries and we have the translation work done, it will roll out worldwide,” Musk said in a tweet on Saturday.
Twitter Blue will roll out in India in “hopefully less than a month,” he tweeted in reply to a question from a follower.
In a separate tweet, Musk added that “fixing
search is a top priority” on Twitter.
“We can beat that,” he replied in another tweet when a user pointed out that YouTube gives creators 55% of ad revenue.
“Twitter will soon add ability to attach longform text to tweets, ending absurdity of notepad screenshots. Followed by creator monetisation for all forms of content,” Musk added in a tweet.
As of Saturday, the update to Twitter Blue remained at the old price of US$4.99.
Shortly after the update was available to users, Twitter’s early stage products executive Esther Crawford said the new service was not yet live. – Reuters