Shocking! Elon Musk calls Twitter Blue tick system "Bullshit", but prices it at $8pm

Elon Musk has revealed that the Twitter blue tick verification badge on the platform will cost $8 per month.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk announces that blue tick verification will soon cost $8 per month. (REUTERS)

After days of speculations on whether the blue tick verification badge, a system developed by Twitter to distinguish influential people from fake accounts and pretenders, would become chargeable or not, the Twitter CEO has revealed his plans in a series of tweets confirming that the badge will indeed come at a monthly subscription fee. Some earlier reports had suggested the price to keep the blue tick in future might be as high as $20 (roughly Rs. 1600), Musk has confirmed that it will be kept at a lesser $8 (around Rs. 660). The announcement was received by the netizens with a generally negative reaction, with many stating that this move harms the creators for the platform.

Elon Musk reveals his big plans with the blue tick

Yesterday, November 11, Musk took to Twitter to announce the new system around the blue tick and the advantages that users can get by subscribing to it. In a dramatic fashion, his opening tweet said, “Twitter's current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn't have a blue checkmark is bullshit. Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.”

But this does not mean that people in countries like India will have to pay an equivalent amount to the dollar. “Price adjusted by country proportionate to purchasing power parity”, explained Musk.

The chief Twit also explained the secondary benefits of purchasing the subscription. He said, “You will also get: Priority in replies, mentions & search, which is essential to defeat spam/scam; Ability to post long video & audio; Half as many ads”. Blue tick subscribers will also get a paywall bypass for publishers who are willing to work with Twitter.

“This will also give Twitter a revenue stream to reward content creators,” he added.

Many concerns were around the fact that this payment-based service will reduce the effectiveness of the original plan behind the blue tick, which was to identify real people from fake. Answering that query, Musk said, “There will be a secondary tag below the name for someone who is a public figure, which is already the case for politicians”.

The announcement has met with widespread criticism and backlash, with many influential personalities claiming that they might leave the platform altogether if this goes forward.

However, the Twitter CEO seems determined to continue with the plan. Today morning, November 2, Musk made a follow up tweet and said, “To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8”. Musk has also changed his Twitter bio from ‘Chief Twit' to ‘Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator'.