Musk Outlines Changes to Twitter’s “Lords & Peasants” System Including Reduced Ads and Paywall Bypass
Proclaiming “power to the people!” Elon Musk outlined his planned changes to Twitter Blue, including allowing anyone to be verified on the app.
In a tweet thread, the new Twitter CEO said that “Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit.”
As a remedy, Musk is willing to make everyone a lord for US$ 8 per month — though this price will be adjusted by country.
Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit.
Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
Alongside a fancy blue check mark, Musk said that Twitter Blue users will also get priority in replies, mentions, and search, which Musk said “is essential to defeat spam/scam.” Users will also get the ability to post “long” video and audio, and will see “half as many adverts.”
That last point would seemingly run contrary to Musk’s previous olive branch to advertisers, which sought to assuage fears that he would turn the social media platform into a no-holds-barred free speech cesspit.
Musk also said that Twitter Blue would offer a “paywall bypass” for any publishers willing to work with the new Twitter supremo. “Willing” being the operative word considering that, since acquiring Twitter, Musk has been on the warpath, slandering publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The changes to Twitter Blue will also give the company a revenue stream to reward creators, according to Musk.
Previously, Twitter Blue had given users advanced access to Twitter features, as well as offering the ability to read ad-free articles, undo or edit tweets (in some countries), and customize their navigation bar. It also lets users set an NFT as your profile picture.
Musk, 51 and a father of eight, has not confirmed when the changes will go into effect.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
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