UNITED STATES: Under its new owner, Elon Musk, Twitter has made a big move by introducing a subscription service that allows users to purchase blue-tick verification for a monthly cost of $7.99 (£7).
The system was created to make it easier for users to find genuine and prominent platform users, such as public figures from the government, media, sports, and entertainment, as well as celebrities and companies.
However, the social media business claimed in a Saturday update for Apple iOS devices that anyone who “signs up immediately” to its premium “Twitter Blue” service will receive a blue tick.
The update stated that the service, which is available in the UK along with the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, will give users “power to the people: your account will earn a blue checkmark, just like the celebrities, businesses, and politicians you already follow.”
Half as many advertisements, the opportunity to publish longer videos, and priority placement for platform-posted material are among the other features that have been promised as “coming soon.”
After successfully completing his $44 billion buyout of the platform last week, Musk looks to be looking to diversify Twitter’s revenue sources and seeking to significantly cut expenditures at the company.
With reports that as many as half of the company’s more than 7,500 employees could be let go, the company started widespread personnel reductions around the world on Friday.
Jack Dorsey, a co-founder of Twitter, apologised on the site on Saturday for expanding the business too quickly.
It happens at the same time that UK-based Twitter employees who face a layoff have three days to designate a representative for a formal consultation regarding their employment.
Employee representatives will be notified and consulted beforehand with prospective redundancies, as required by employment law. The company has already informed workers in the UK.
Musk said on Friday night that the company was losing more than $4 million per day and that those fired from Twitter had been offered a three-month payout.
Also Read: Twitter Will Charge $8 a Month for “Blue Ticks,” Says Elon Musk
