There are speculations that Twitter is planning to charge its users up to $20 monthly verification subscription fee as part of the new changes the new owner, Elon Musk will make on the microblogging platform.
Musk is reportedly considering making verification a Twitter Blue feature compulsory and increasing the subscription service’s cost. This could mean charging users a monthly $20 fee to retain their blue tick badge. A move which he says will help get rid of bot accounts on the social media platform. Recall the Musk had cited too may fake accounts on the platform as his major reason for trying to pull out the Twitter buy deal.
Report by the Verge also reveals that there are plans to increase the Twitter Blue subscription from $4.99 monthly to $19.99 per month. The report disclosed that employees were mandated to effect this change by a deadline, or face layoff.
“Employees working on the project were told on Sunday that they need to meet a deadline of November 7th to launch the feature or they will be fired,” the Verge said.
Twitter currently grants verified status to notable accounts from a “prominently recognised individual or brand” to fight disinformation and impersonation.
Musk in a tweet on Sunday said: “The whole verification process is being revamped right now.”
Must had on Thursday sacked the former CEO Parag Agrawal and several other top executives, including Ned Segal, Vijaya Gadde, and Sean Edgett. This is still palpable fear that more layoffs are on the way.