Just days after taking command of one of the most popular social networks, Elon Musk tweeted that Twitter will modify its user verification procedure.
In a tweet, Musk stated, “The whole verification process is undergoing a complete overhaul.” He did not elaborate.
Twitter is considering charging for the coveted blue check mark that verifies the identity of its account user, the technology weekly Platformer said on Sunday, citing two individuals with knowledge of the situation.
According to the article, if the initiative comes through, users would be required to subscribe to Twitter Blue for $4.99 per month or risk losing their “verified” badges.
The CEO of Tesla has not yet made a final decision, and the project might yet be abandoned, but Platformer predicts that verification will be incorporated into Twitter Blue.
Separately, The Verge claimed on Sunday that Twitter will boost the monthly membership fee for Twitter Blue, which also validates users, from $4.99 to $19.99 per month, citing internal communication.
Twitter Blue was introduced in June of 2013 as the platform’s first subscription service, offering “exclusive access to premium features,” such as the ability to edit tweets, for a monthly fee.
After launching a Twitter poll in April asking his millions of followers whether they wanted an edit button, the option to modify tweets was also made accessible earlier this month. More than 70% had agreed.
Musk has reportedly demanded that logged-out users who visit Twitter’s website be moved to the Explore tab, which displays trending tweets, according to a second Sunday Verge post citing workers with knowledge of the situation.