Twitter launches ‘blue ticks’ subscription service

Starting today, Twitter users can sign up for a subscription in a number of countries that give them a verified account for a fee. Such an account, which can be identified with a blue check mark behind the username, is currently reserved for a limited group of Twitter. Large corporations and public figures are eligible, among others.

It was already known that the new owner of Twitter, Elon Musk, had plans for the subscription service. At the moment, the service is only available on Apple devices in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Users can get a blue check there for $7.99 per month.

The blue tick system was introduced in 2009 to prevent the creation of fake accounts of politicians and celebrities. A few years ago, every Twitter user could request such a tag, after which the social network verifies the authenticity of the user. If this shows that the user is ‘prominent’ enough and can prove their identity, the Twitter user will receive a blue tick next to their username.

Thanks to this check, other Twitter users know for sure that the account has been verified, and therefore it really belongs to the person in question. Experts fear that the new subscription system will mean that users will no longer be able to determine whether accounts are genuine.

The launch of the new system comes a day after the owner of Twitter, Musk, announced that half of the company’s employees will lose their jobs. According to Musk, who paid more than €44 billion to buy Twitter, mass layoffs are necessary to ensure the tech company’s future success.