Twitter users can now opt to pay an annual fee for their blue verification badge, rather than the monthly charge the feature incurred previously.
The controversial feature has been the subject of much debate and contention. After being announced in October of last year, the feature was rolled out, then removed, and then relaunched again.
Twitter Blue has come to symbolize the chaos of Elon Musk’s ill-fated Twitter takeover, which has seen the tech billionaire come under heavy criticism. Musk has reinstated formerly banned figures, while his dedication to ‘free speech’ has resulted in a proliferation of hate speech on the platform.
Musk has long maintained the need for Twitter to boost profits, with the Blue feature designed to drive revenue for the platform. Recently, the company suffered a 40% drop in revenue due to advertisers leaving the platform.
Initially, users could pay an $8 ($11 on iOS devices) monthly fee to receive a coveted blue verification check mark. The idea was widely panned as critics feared it could damage the legitimacy and reliability of the platform.
In a new update, Twitter has confirmed that users can now pay an annual fee for Blue. They will be charged $84 per year, making for savings of around 13%.
Other features of Twitter Blue include things like Tweet editing functions, longer videos, and reduced ads. Are these features worth the cost? That’s for the user to decide.
