According to Elon Musk, Twitter will charge users who want a blue checkmark next to their name to indicate a verified account $8 (£7 per month).
Mr. Musk claimed it was “necessary to beat spam/scam” as part of the reforms made after a $44 billion (£38 billion) buyout of the social media platform.
A blue check mark next to a username, which is often reserved for well-known people, is presently free.
Critics claim that the change may make it more difficult to locate trustworthy sources.
The richest man in the world, Mr. Musk, noted that premium customers would receive preferential treatment in replies and searches, as well as half as many adverts.
Power to the people! Blue for $8/month,” the billionaire said on Twitter, criticising the old method of blue tick verification as a “lords and peasants system”.
BCC News reports that, Twitter’s former method of verifying users for a blue tick included a short online application form, and was reserved for those whose identities were targets for impersonation, such as celebrities, politicians and journalists.
The company introduced the system in 2009, after it faced a lawsuit accusing it of not doing enough to prevent imposter accounts.
But Mr Musk is facing a hefty challenge as he works to overhaul Twitter’s business, which has not posted a profit in years.
He has said he wants to reduce Twitter’s reliance on advertising, even as some companies have grown concerned about advertising on the site under his leadership
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