Twitter Blue or Bust: Why Paying $84 a Year Might Save Your Verification Checkmark

Twitter, in a recent statement alerted users that starting from April 1st, it will gradually discontinue its legacy verified program, which means that the legacy verified checkmarks will also be removed. If you wish to maintain your verified status on Twitter, you can do so by subscribing to Twitter Blue, the social media platform's paid subscription service.

On April 1st, we will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks. To keep your blue checkmark on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue here: https://t.co/gzpCcwOpLp

Organizations can sign up for https://t.co/RlN5BbuGA3…

— Twitter Verified (@verified) March 23, 2023

Twitter Blue is a paid subscription service from Twitter that offers premium features such as the ability to undo tweets, edit tweet, 1080p video uploads, bookmark folders and access to exclusive content. There are many new features such as 'prioritized tweet' and 'less ads', in the pipeline which will be available to Twitter Blue users. There are monthly and annual plans available. A valid phone number is required to get a blue checkmark. Post verification of phone number and approval from Twitter, the checkmark will be given. Twitter Blue is available for an individual as well as for an organization. As per Twitter, If an individual person's Twitter account is associated with a verified organization, their account will automatically be granted verification status.

Last year, Musk reintroduced Twitter Blue that costs $8 per month or $84 per year for individuals. The introduction of paid subscriptions is an essential source of revenue for Twitter, as the social media platform currently generates almost all of its income from advertising. Ever since Elon Musk took over Twitter, he is looking for additional revenue streams for Twitter. If you are a verified government official, journalist, celebrity, or other high-profile Twitter user, you must act fast and subscribe to Twitter Blue to preserve your verification badge.

Twitter's decision to introduce new verification guidelines and discontinue its legacy program highlights the platform's ongoing efforts to enhance user trust and transparency. While these changes may cause some users to lose their verified status, subscribing to Twitter Blue offers a convenient and effective solution to retain the coveted verification badge. However, it remains to be seen whether Twitter's push towards a subscription-based model will prove successful in generating additional revenue and maintaining the platform's relevance in the competitive social media landscape.