Microblogging and social networking service Twitter has revealed plans to introduce a monthly fee of as high as about $20 for account verification.
In an official statement on Monday, Twitter said its subscription price would range from $4.99 to $19.99 per month, adding that users who do not pay will lose their verification.
The social networking company explained that the charges would help the platform stay debt free after reports showed that bots comprise five per cent of all users while ‘heavy tweeters’ compromise less than 10 per cent of the blue app’s monthly users.
The statement also indicated that Elon Musk, the new twitter owner, is exploring pushing forward a financially driven change.
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According to the statement, “Verified or ‘blue tick’ users would need to pay for their verification status going forward, or else it will be removed till it is paid.
“The company’s objective is to set a monthly subscription of $4.99 for these users, which would further unlock other features.
“But for newly verified accounts till after the launch will have to pay $19.99.
“Current verified users will be given 90 days from the launch, to subscribe to the new feature, the statement added.
This news comes less than a week after serial entrepreneur Elon Musk took over as the owner and CEO of Twitter on Friday, October 28, 2022.
The Twitter app, which currently has over 400,000 verified users, is also planning to launch the pay-for-play verification system on the 7th of November.
“Current verified users will be given 90 days from the launch, to subscribe to the new feature, the statement added.