Musk Shakes Up Twitter with Paid Blue Ticks and Spam Crackdown
Goodbye Free Blue Tick, Hello $8 a Month
Elon Musk, now owner of Twitter after a whopping $44 billion (£38 billion) takeover, declared it’s “important to eliminate spam/scam.” But his latest move could ruffle feathers. The iconic blue check mark, once a free badge for public figures, will now cost £8 a month.
Musk tweeted: “People’s power! Blue for $8/month.” He slammed the old system as a “lords and peasants system,” promising that paying users will get priority in replies, searches, and see half as many adverts.
Critics Fear Trust Issues
Once reserved for celebrities, politicians, and journalists, the blue tick has been a trusted symbol of authenticity since Twitter introduced it in 2009. Detractors argue Musk’s new pay-for-play model could blur the line between real and fake accounts, making it tougher to spot trustworthy voices on the platform.
Musk’s Race to Turn Twitter Profitable
Twitter has struggled for years to turn a profit. Musk’s overhaul aims to reduce reliance on advertising, even though some advertisers are wary of backing the site under his reign. Whether charging for verification will help Twitter finally make money or backfire remains to be seen.
