Tech

Twitter verification to cost $8 according to new owner Elon Musk

WISDOM K.E HAMMOND 2 years ago

Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter has got many users of Twitter super emotional with his Tweet “To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8”. According to him, Twitter verification will be introduced, and it will cost users at least $8 to get verified. This is going to be a monthly fee for the blue thick.

To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022

One of the comments left on the post indicates that Twitter totally stole the idea of charging for insults & arguments from Monty Python tbh. But more users are calling for favours. Someone requested that journalist should be exempted from paying.

“Some have also argued this is a plan to stop journalists from using Twitter so that false information can spread quickly. $8 says this whole verification-for-pay scheme is secretly to delegitimize journalists on the platform, so intentional misinformation can spread further and faster. The Facebook method of profit.” A tweet from SirGalvanium @SirGalvanium suggested.

The Tweet by Elon Musk has gained over 45k comments and has got the internet buzzing however, Elon Musk further disclosed in another tweet that those who pay the $8 will get the following

Priority in replies.
Mentions & search.
It will essentially defeat spam/scams
Ability to post long video & audio
Half as many ads

He added that, the fee of $8 will ensure that Twitter makes some revenue to reward content creators on the social media platform. “There will be a secondary tag below the name for someone who is a public figure, which is already the case for politicians” and “paywall bypass for publishers willing to work with us” he stated.

The move has been condemned by many who believe this new fee by Twitter will stop free speech. This was made clear in a Tweet by @AlanWolfson who argued that…”That means that “free speech” isn’t your aim You will amplify the voices of those that pay you and therefore it is not a true town square as you claimed that you wanted. Please don’t do this if you’re serious about free speech”

That means that “free speech” isn’t your aim

You will amplify the voices of those that pay you and therefore it is not a true town square as you claimed that you wanted.

Please don’t do this if you’re serious about free speech

— Time For Change #PRNow #GTTO #GeneralElectionNow (@AlanWolfson) November 1, 2022

READ: Elon Musk pulls out of $44bn deal to buy Twitter

Elon Musk has however been accused of trying to silence ordinary people using Twitter as well as free speech. The plans he intends to implement a the new owner go against the very things he complained about years back.

Reacting to the $8 Verification fee, @DawnBernadotte replying to @elonmusk said

“Basically, you want to restrict what we see in our feed – paid subscribers first. Weren’t you complaining about Twitter’s “de facto bias” through their algorithms, but it’s not “de facto bias” if you pay $8 – it’s “priority”.”

I’m worried about de facto bias in “the Twitter algorithm” having a major effect on public discourse.

How do we know what’s really happening?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2022

Twitter verification will be introduced, and it will cost users at least $8 to get verified. Are you ready for it and will Elon Musk succeed in introducing it or will he bow to pressure? Only time will tell.

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