Twitter Could Start Charging for Verification Next Week, Edit Button Reportedly Coming to All Users

[tobybrut]

I don’t see a problem with paying for blue checks, seeing as the previous way to get them was inconsistent and was often dependent on who you knew. Now, the ordinary folk can get blue checks, not just the elites and those favored by Twitter execs. As long as getting a blue check requires some sort of identify verification, I’m fine with it, since we’d know they’re not bots. If Twitter isn’t important enough to pay the money to get a blue check, by all means don’t. There’s nothing stopping anyone from using it for free.

Personally, I don’t care enough to get a blue check, but am happy there’s actually a defined process now for getting one. For those who didn’t already have a blue check, nothing’s really changed. For those that do have one now, consider it a business expense. It’s still cheaper than Netflix.

 

[indros]

This Twitter thread is an excellent explanation of why charging for the blue check is actually against Twitter's own interest. It's not the user that gets value from a check, it's Twitter.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587505782085783554

Twitter aims to start charging users for blue check verification badges as soon as next week, as part of new owner Elon Musk's plan to further monetize the social media platform, according to a new report.

The badges will be part of an $8-per-month Twitter Blue subscription, an increase of $3 over the current $4.99 per month price, which will also include priority in replies, mentions, and search, the ability to post long video and audio, and half as many ads as non-paying users.

For users who already have the verification badge, such as celebrities, journalists, and other notable influencers, "chief twit" Musk intends to give them a "multi-month grace period" before they will either need to pay for the badge or lose it, according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the plans. Twitter will reportedly allow government accounts to stay verified, as well as those in regions where Twitter cannot charge payment.

The company also plans to expand access to its edit function, which is currently limited to paying Twitter Blue subscribers. All Twitter account holders are expected to be given access to the long-requested edit feature, and that could also happen as early as next week, although the timing for Twitter's plans could still change, according to Bloomberg's sources.

The plan to charge for the blue verification badge has been met with controversy, with some prominent holders of the badge speaking out against the move and saying they won't pay for it.

Some critics have accused Musk of "charging for free speech," in the sense that users who don't pay up will have their posts diminished or silenced. Others however have supported the move, agreeing with Musk that it will help weed out bots and other spam accounts.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587911540770222081

Musk is working rapidly to monetize Twitter, as the social network has historically not been particularly profitable. In addition to introducing changes to Twitter Blue, Musk has also said that he plans to bring back video service Vine. Rumors suggest that Musk has shifted more than 50 Tesla engineers over to Twitter to work on the new features.

Article Link: Twitter Could Start Charging for Verification Next Week, Edit Button Reportedly Coming to All Users

 

[canyonblue737]

This sounds like those who defend Apple taking 30% of every IAP. Goes both ways. Without notables Twitter would be nothing. Just like iOS would be pretty worthless without developers.

well we will see what happens. I think your "notables" need Twitter as much as Twitter needs them at this point, it might have been different 5-10 years ago. Few will leave at this point, and they will certainly pay $8 a month in the same way almost no one who says "I'm moving to Canada" does.

 

[Abazigal]

This sounds like those who defend Apple taking 30% of every IAP. Goes both ways. Without notables Twitter would be nothing. Just like iOS would be pretty worthless without developers.

I guess this is the difference between then and now.

Today, developers arguably need the iOS App Store more than Apple needs individual developers.

And I dare say that people need (or at least, really want) twitter more than twitter needs them, simply because that’s where their social network are.

 

[Rogifan]

I guess this is the difference between then and now.

Today, developers arguably need the iOS App Store more than Apple needs individual developers.

And I dare say that people need (or at least, really want) twitter more than twitter needs them, simply because that’s where their social network are.

Well Apple doesn’t really care about developers other than what it can extract from them. On the latest Upgrade podcast Jason Snell talks about the Apple mindset (which he says came from Steve Jobs) that all value must accrue to Apple. Clearly that mindset was passed on to Phil Schiller, Eddy Cue and Tim Cook. Hence why they will extract every last dollar they can out of developers and the App Store even if it damages the company’s reputation.

 

[steve333]

I wouldn't pay a dime for Twitter. let him start charging and watch his $44 Billion fly away.
Musk is turning into a loon

 

[tgwaste]

Bias will still be there, it'll just be on the other side.

We both know that isnt true. In a few months you can reply to this post again with a list of all the people on the left that got banned from Twitter. We both know the number will be 0.

 

[tgwaste]

This Twitter thread is an excellent explanation of why charging for the blue check is actually against Twitter's own interest. It's not the user that gets value from a check, it's Twitter.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587505782085783554

Not true at all. The verification adds to that users following. In some cases, by MILLIONS of people. Which all benefit that user and their self promotion which translates to $$$$ for them.

I mean. come on!

 

[stevet]

it’s funny watching people flip out about this. Reminds when people threatened to leave the country if a certain person became president.

He’s making Twitter the product instead of the users being the product. That’s what you get for $8. If you don’t want to pay, don’t, but don’t expect the same experience.

 

[Nicky G]

The man is turning it into a propaganda network deliberately.

The Saudis have a big stake, apparently.

Wake the heck up, people!

 

[Rogifan]

According to leaked internal documents the $8/mo will not include verification so if someone has a check by their name all it will mean is they’re giving Twitter $8/mo. So what’s the point?

 

[amartinez1660]

Yawn, for all the fringe benefits these platforms might provide, it’s still all comprised of mostly narcissistic behavior, the basics:
- Instagram: “YOU, yes YOU look at ME, I’ll steal your time if you allow it to look at ME”. Even on the most boring and bad event good looking pictures can be manufactured.
- Twitter: “YOU, read ME, it’s all about ME. I’ll steal your time if you allow it to listen to ME. I’ll make you lose hair follicles and enrage you on a carefully designed platform just for that. YOU read ME.” Twitter is short on characters for a reason, flaming content is by nature shorter in words, it takes a vastly larger amount of words for a positive content to have the reach and virality of the shorter flaming one.

They can all do whatever they want, I’ll just be looking over here from the fringes.

 

[svish]

Edit button made available to all for free will be great!

 

[SurferPup]

" "chief twit Musk" " RALMAO. Maybe I should sign up US$8 / month just for the ensuing laughs.

 

[boyarka]

AOC got put in her place, lol.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

At least you’re being honest about why Musk is doing this (or why his fanboys want him to do it). They just want their ‘cool kids’ to get it instead. Honestly I never even noticed that the guys from the ATP podcast had checkmarks. I have a Twitter list that includes them and a bunch of other Apple/tech focused people. None of them were added to the list because they had a checkmark by their name. And if they all lost their checkmark tomorrow I wouldn’t stop reading what they tweet.

It’s adorable that you’re a true fan. But I think you implicitly agree with me they shouldn’t be verified. And soon they will be just like everyone else. And I am certain they will take severe self esteem hits, as they’re actually nobodies in the real world.

 

[djstile]

None of this fan base has been able to explain why verifying someone’s identity should cost $8/mo. Heck, Musk hasn’t explained it either. It’s not about that; it’s about Musk punishing people they don’t like.

Well neither of us know the real thought process - but what we do know is the previous management of Twitter did not turn a profit for the last two years so Musk is probably doing what he can to increase revenue.

Either way, as I've been told for the last three years: "Twitter is a private company and it can do whatever it wants. If you don't like it, make your own Twitter."

 

[djstile]

The man is turning it into a propaganda network deliberately.

The Saudis have a big stake, apparently.

Wake the heck up, people!

You need to do more research here. Saudi investment in Twitter goes back to 2011 yet curiously I don't see CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, Washington Post, etc. clutching their pearls over it...wonder why.

"Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Kingdom Holdings first invested $300 million for more than a 3% stake in 2011, prior to Twitter going public."

"Bin Talal retained a position going forward, later buying even more shares, and in May signaled that it would roll over its stake into Musk's deal. That pledge was codified yesterday in SEC filings, which say that Kingdom is now Twitter's second-largest shareholder (albeit with around a 4% stake)."

Saudi investments did not increase when Musk bought Twitter, they just rolled over their stake. Nothing has changed from an investment perspective except they now own 4% of a private company instead of 4% of a public company.

 

[planteater]

This man and his ardent followers are an embarrassment.

With all due respect, it’s the yelling at the sky detractors that are embarrassing themselves. They need to sit back, drink a beer and relax.

 

[planteater]

Elon is either the dumbest person on the planet or he is being blackmailed to destroy Twitter. Nothing about this is rational.

A 3 dollar raise in price is not rational? It’s certainly more rational than your lack of understanding people like Musk that drive innovation. Given his history, anyone that doubts his ability to improve Twitter is other a political hack, or not thinking clearly.

 

[planteater]

What do you mean? What improvements have we really seen or witnessed?

I dont't think charging $8 for verification and fewer ads is not so much of an improvement.

It’s been his company about a week. Nobody on earth can get their team and processes in place in that time period. Reevaluate in a year.

 

[djstile]

None of it good. Hitler did many things. I do not view him as a model for my life.

Lmao get a grip man. He's allowing people to pay $8 for a blue check mark, not exterminating entire populations and waging war on the world. Didn't take long to get Godwin's law up and running.

 

[Nicky G]

You need to do more research here. Saudi investment in Twitter goes back to 2011 yet curiously I don't see CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, Washington Post, etc. clutching their pearls over it...wonder why.

"Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Kingdom Holdings first invested $300 million for more than a 3% stake in 2011, prior to Twitter going public."

"Bin Talal retained a position going forward, later buying even more shares, and in May signaled that it would roll over its stake into Musk's deal. That pledge was codified yesterday in SEC filings, which say that Kingdom is now Twitter's second-largest shareholder (albeit with around a 4% stake)."

Saudi investments did not increase when Musk bought Twitter, they just rolled over their stake. Nothing has changed from an investment perspective except they now own 4% of a private company instead of 4% of a public company.

LOL that is a big change!!! The largest shareholder now pulls MUCH MORE WEIGHT.

 

[Wahlstrm]

Good, why should it be free?

When a service is free, you know where the money is coming from.

It probably shouldn’t.

I haven’t used Twitter in a decade but back then I always thought that the main problem with Twitter was the fact that it was free.

Even at $1/year it still would’ve removed a ton of spambots and provided the company with a few hundred million extra to spent on the app that lacked so many good features that third party (paid) apps offered.

But for some reason they just didn’t want to our money back then..

 

[Enlightened Doggo]

it’s funny watching people flip out about this. Reminds when people threatened to leave the country if a certain person became president.

He’s making Twitter the product instead of the users being the product. That’s what you get for $8. If you don’t want to pay, don’t, but don’t expect the same experience.

Characterizing people logging off toxic social media as a tantrum. Yeah, that's like totally a super interesting opinion, but not doing it for me fam.