Reports say that Twitter may be charging verified accounts to keep their status. The social networking app's executives have been considering it, as mentioned in CNET. Users with the blue check mark that serves as a verification badge will have to pay $5 each month for a Twitter Blue subscription.
However, Platformer's reports differ from The Verge, which claims that the price for verification may be $19.99. Users will be given 90 days to subscribe, or they will lose their status symbol. Users that may want to subscribe are brands, news organizations, celebrities, journalists, athletes, and more.
The Blue Check
The verification badge emphasizes the legitimacy and authenticity of the account, separating it from fake ones. Prominent accounts might have to subscribe to Twitter Blue just so they can stand out from misleading accounts.
Although, there aren't that many accounts. In 2021, there were 360,000 accounts that were verified. That makes up 0.2% of all Twitter accounts. Since it has been an issue that Twitter has low revenue compared to other social media sites, this might be a move to fix that. Since the takeover of tech billionaire Elon Musk, reports of workforce reduction have been circulating.
Musk also expressed that he aims to revamp the whole verification process. This means that Twitter will have a new system for verifying accounts and targeting bots.
Twitter Blue Subscription
According to The Verge, gone are the days when users could choose to ignore the $4.99 monthly subscription that unlocks additional features. Now, users will have to pay more and will be forced to if they want that blue check beside their names.
The new Twitter owner, Elon Musk, has set an ultimatum for his employees. They have to finish the project by November 7th or just pack their bags and leave the company. This is certainly a more stern approach compared to how Elon Musk wants to treat speech moderation on the platform.
On the bright side, the verified status is not the only thing that comes with the subscription. Users will also be able to:
Allow users to undo a tweet
Read news ad-free
Edit a published tweet
Organize bookmarks into folders
Pin conversations in their DMs
Upload videos up to 10 minutes long
The New Leadership's Effect
On top of the paid verification update, other users might not be too keen on the barely moderated tweeting practices that Musk wants to implement. There are already those who don't plan to stick around for whatever havoc unsupervised Twitter might bring.
Shonda Rhimes, the producer and creator of "Grey's Anatomy," have already announced her departure from the app. Rhymes expressed on October 29, saying: "Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye."
The Shondaland founder was not the only one who made her exit known. Ken Olin, the producer of "This Is US," also stated that he was out and that there was no judgment. He added that people should keep their faith, protect democracy, and try to be kinder, as shown in PInkvilla.
Others might follow suit, especially since there are already obvious changes in the app's atmosphere since Elon's takeover. Insensitive remarks toward certain communities can already be spotted, which includes derogatory content and slurs.
