Twitter to Charge $20 a Month for Verified Accounts, Reports Suggest

[MacRumors]

Twitter, now owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is reportedly planning to charge users $20 per month if they want to become or stay verified on the platform, according to multiple reports.

The Verge and Platformer are both reporting that Twitter is set to introduce a new tier to Twitter Blue, the social media platform's subscription service, that costs $20 per month and includes verification on the platform. Currently, applying for verification on Twitter is free, and users only need to show account notability, be of public interest, and be authentic.

According to The Verge, if the proposed plan moves forward, currently verified users on Twitter will have 90 days to subscribe to the new $20-per-month Twitter Blue subscription or lose their blue checkmark. Musk has reportedly told engineers to have the project completed by November 7 or else they'll be fired, per "internal correspondence" and sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The Verge.

Musk said on Sunday that Twitter's verification process is "being revamped right now," but did not provide any additional details. Twitter Blue currently costs $4.99 and unlocks additional perks on the platform, including the ability to edit tweets, change the app icon, and more.

Article Link: Twitter to Charge $20 a Month for Verified Accounts, Reports Suggest

 

[Wildkraut]

Let's see how Elon will react when Apple demands their 30% of $20.
3,2,1 - fight!

 

[pauloregan]

That's $240 off of MacRumors bottom line.

 

[LoveTo]

Wow! That sounds quite greedy! And within hours of joining the company too! I’m sure it makes economic sense but at least lead with some positive changes?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Wow! That sounds quite greedy! And within hours of joining the company too! I’m sure it makes economic sense but at least lead with some positive changes?

I wouldn’t say that especially if you believe reports that Twitter essentially makes no money. Musk wants to make money so makes sense. I personally hope all social media turns to ash as it’s all toxic crap any way.

 

[heystu]

And so begins the inevitable fall of Twitter, soon to be destined to the great social media graveyard alongside MySpace, Bebo and Friends Reunited 😞

 

[USB-Adapter]

Why don‘t charge them $20 per Tweet?

 

[krebphone]

Let's see how Elon will react when Apple demands their 30% of $20.
3,2,1 - fight!

It’s priced in.

 

[Wildkraut]

It’s priced in.

I doubt it's priced in, he will disagree and fight against the cut.

 

[-BigMac-]

Meh.

I know its big in the US, but really.. I am yet to be asked for my Twitter handle by ANYONE. Facebook on a weekly

 

[contacos]

"or else be fired"

He sounds real fun to work for!

 

[Wildkraut]

Today is the day, the Mastodon App came on my iPhone, let me check that.

 

[LeeW]

Let's wait and see what the truth is. Twitter staff are clearly not happy with Musk owning the company, there has been so much fake news and claims being leaked. Maybe it is true that he is going to charge $20 for some enhanced service. Whether it is worth it will depend on what you get for $20.

That he is going to fire people if they don't get it live by the 7th? I highly doubt he said that.

 

[syklee26]

lol now THAT is an ultimatum.

I am wondering if Steve ever pulled this off… giving them ultimatum and fire engineers for not meeting it.

Twitter engineers have been too lazy to make any changes, and now they are in for a rude awakening!

 

[Harvey Zoltan]

I remember reading somewhere that all the people on Twitter were either Celebrities, Politicians. Journalist or Psychopaths. So now I guess they will be able to pay to have this verified.

 

[gank41]

What a stupid businessman. Doesn't he realize that a lot of the 230 million or so Twitter users would be more apt to pay $4.99 a month than $19.99 a month? This truly shows how out of touch he is. I mean, does it come with Disney+ or do I get extra online storage? 🤣

 

[Juicy Box]

Musk has reportedly told engineers to have the project completed by November 7 or else they'll be fired

"or else be fired"

He sounds real fun to work for!

Kind of reminds me of old SJ stories.

 

[leman]

Fun times ahead. Got money, get your badge. Don't want to shell out — be declared a "bot". Musk was already referring to people criticising his tweets as "bots", so this is just the continuation of the topic. If this change is implemented, Twitter will indeed become a "level playing field" — for those who can afford to pay money to influence public opinion, that is. The actual public will be left out. I don't see a situation where this ends well.

 

[Juicy Box]

Twitter, which is now owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is reportedly planning to charge users $20 per month if they want to become or stay verified on the platform, according to multiple reports.

IIRC, there was rumors about charging more for business to be verified on the platform. I wonder if the $20 a month is just for businesses...

 

[ProfessionalFan]

This is a good idea. For some reason having a check mark is seen as important there, and there are way too many people who have one for some unknown reason. Those people are treated as more credible by some due to having one. Now it’ll just show you like to pay a subscription fee.

 

[Zest28]

Wow! That sounds quite greedy! And within hours of joining the company too! I’m sure it makes economic sense but at least lead with some positive changes?

Twitter is a business, not a charity.

Google has been loosing money on Youtube for years also, so they will start locking features behind paid tiers too.

 

[Gudi]

Wow! That sounds quite greedy! And within hours of joining the company too! I’m sure it makes economic sense but at least lead with some positive changes?

Why do you auto-assume it makes economic sense? It rather looks like a potentially company-killing policy. Best case scenario people keep using Twitter without being verified, worst case they don't.

 

[Royksöpp]

He makes Tim Cook look like the Dalai Lama. Get the popcorn folks, this is going to be fun!

 

[gank41]

I’m curious still what will happen to apps like Tweetbot, especially when there’s an option to just not show badges because who cares?

 

[JustSomebody12]

I wouldn’t say that especially if you believe reports that Twitter essentially makes no money. Musk wants to make money so makes sense. I personally hope all social media turns to ash as it’s all toxic crap any way.

While I dislike Musk’s unbound approach, I disagree with most of the critiques against the acquisition of Twitter by Musk: the social network was already a cesspit, Musk understands tech enough to know how to fix it (if he will is another matter)…