Getting Verified on Twitter will Put Your Pockets on Fire!

Here’s How Elon Musk has announced an $8 monthly fee for Twitter blue tick.

Elon Musk said it was "essential to defeat spam/scam" as part of changes made following a $44 billion (£38 billion) takeover of the social media site. A blue tick symbol next to a username normally reserved for public figures is currently free. According to critics, the move may make it more challenging to identify trustworthy sources. Mr. Musk, the world's richest person, also stated that paid users would receive priority in replies and searches, as well as half the number of advertisements. "The people have the upper hand! "Blue for $8/month," the billionaire tweeted, dismissing the old blue tick verification method as a "lords and peasants system". However, Nu Wexler, former Twitter Head of Global Policy Communications, warned that charging for blue ticks could make it more challenging to detect disinformation.

With disinformation as a problem that many platforms are dealing with, verification is one of the methods that journalists, academic researchers, and some users use to filter out disinformation or low-quality information. "When you offer blue tick for rent, it makes it more difficult to sift through misinformation and find high-quality information." Twitter's previous method of verifying users for a blue tick included a brief online application form and was reserved for those whose identities were likely to be impersonated, such as celebrities, politicians, and journalists. The system was implemented in 2009, following a lawsuit accusing the company of failing to do enough to prevent imposter accounts. According to a report, there were approximately 400,000 verified users on Twitter as of 2021.

Mr. Musk, on the other hand, faces a significant challenge in overhauling the Twitter business, which has not turned a profit in years. He has stated that he wants to reduce Twitter's reliance on advertising, even though some businesses are concerned about advertising on the site under his leadership. General Motors, a competitor of Mr. Musk's electric car company Tesla, announced last week that it would suspend advertising on the site. Meanwhile, some major brands have quietly suspended their advertising on the platform while they await Mr. Musk's changes, according to a media buyer for a major advertising firm.

IPG, one of the world's largest advertising firms, advised its clients to suspend Twitter advertisements for a week, citing a need for more clarity on Twitter's plans to ensure "trust and safety" on the platform. Some of the world's largest brands give IPG billions of pounds per year to manage their marketing budgets. The charge for blue tick privileges was met with skepticism after initial reports suggested it could be $20 (£18) per month. Many users on the platform agreed with author Stephen King, who said in response to reports of changes that Twitter "should pay me." "We need to pay the bills somehow!" wrote Mr. Musk to Mr. King.