Twitter launches update that lets you pay for verification badge | Science & Tech News

Twitter has started rolling out its revamped subscription service that allows anyone to pay for a verification badge.

An update to the platform’s iOS app, launched on Saturday, says the new-look Twitter Blue is now live, with the checkmark on your account listed among the perks of paying $7.99 a month.

“Power to the people: Your account will get a blue checkmark, just like the celebrities, companies, and politicians you already follow,” it says.

It’s available in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where Twitter Blue was already available.

While the update says the feature is also out in the UK, it does not yet appear to be live.

Other features promised to be “coming soon” include half the number of adverts, the ability to post longer videos and priority ranking for content posted on the platform.

The blue tick verification system was previously designed to help users identify authentic, influential users on the platform such as government figures, sportsmen and women, journalists and brands.

Musk defends verification change

New owner Elon Musk seems to be looking to diversify the company’s revenue streams after his $44bn takeover.

“Far too many legacy “verified” checkmarks were handed out, often arbitrarily, so in reality they are *not* verified. You can buy as many as you want right now with a Google search,” he tweeted on Saturday.

“Piggybacking off payment system plus Apple/Android is a much better way to ensure verification.

“As soon as we confirm it’s working well in the initial set of countries and we have the translation work done, it will roll out worldwide.”

Twitter’s early stage products executive Esther Crawford has sought to clarify that despite the app update, the new Twitter Blue has not fully rolled out yet.

“The new Blue isn’t live yet – the sprint to our launch continues but some folks may see us making updates because we are testing and pushing changes in real-time,” she said in a tweet.

It comes just a day after the social network began laying off thousands of its staff.

Staff who face losing their jobs in the UK were given three days to nominate a representative for a formal consultation about their employment.

Workers in the UK have been told the company plans to inform and consult employee representatives ahead of potential redundancies, as required by employment law.