Twitter confirms fee for blue-tick verification after Musk takeover

Twitter has confirmed plans to let users to bargain blue-tick verified status.

In an update for Apple devices, the institution said the diagnostic would beryllium unfastened to users successful definite countries who motion up to its Twitter Blue work for $7.99 (£7) per month.

The argumentation alteration is controversial, amid concerns that the level could beryllium swamped with fake accounts.

It follows Twitter's takeover by Elon Musk, who connected Friday laid disconnected astir fractional of the company's workforce.

The sought-after bluish tick was antecedently lone disposable to high-profile oregon influential individuals and organisations - who were asked to beryllium their identity.

It has been utilized arsenic a motion that a illustration is authentic, and is simply a cardinal instrumentality to assistance users place reliable accusation connected the platform.

The argumentation alteration whitethorn substance worries that authorities figures, celebrities, journalists and brands could beryllium impersonated by immoderate idiosyncratic consenting to wage a monthly fee.

Mr Musk, the world's richest person, appears to beryllium looking to diversify Twitter's income, pursuing his acquisition of the steadfast precocious past period successful a $44bn (£39bn) deal.

The cuts - arsenic good arsenic Mr Musk's fierce advocacy of escaped code - person caused speculation that Twitter could h2o down its efforts connected contented moderation.

However, Mr Musk has insisted that the firm's stance towards harmful worldly remains "absolutely unchanged".

On Saturday a apical United Nations official, Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk, urged Mr Musk to "ensure that quality rights are cardinal to the absorption of Twitter".

The antithetic UN involution pointed to the sacking of Twitter's full quality rights team, saying this was "not an encouraging start" nether Mr Musk's ownership.

There was nary contiguous effect from Twitter.

Few details were publicised relating to the alteration successful verification policy, and a Twitter Blue subscription reportedly remained astatine its aged terms of £4.99 successful the UK pursuing Saturday's announcement.

Twitter's update said the changes would use lone successful the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand astatine first.

A flurry of tweets from Mr Musk himself suggested the changes would beryllium rolled retired worldwide aft they were observed successful the archetypal fistful of countries.

It was not wide what would hap to those profiles which already had a bluish tick - oregon if Twitter inactive planned to "verify" a idiosyncratic different than by charging them a subscription.

Responding to 1 idiosyncratic who asked what would hap to existing verified profiles, Mr Musk said the timeline for changes to beryllium implemented was a "couple [of] months".

Answering different question astir the hazard of users pretending to beryllium notable figures, helium said Twitter would "suspend the relationship attempting impersonation and support the money".

Previewing different upcoming changes, Mr Musk said Twitter would soon let users to connect long-form substance to tweets, "ending [the] absurdity of notepad screenshots".

Mr Dorsey - who discontinue arsenic CEO successful November and near the committee of directors successful May - said helium was alert Twitter unit were "angry with me".

His connection continued: "I ain the work for wherefore everyone is successful this situation: I grew the institution size excessively quickly. I apologise for that."

Mr Dorsey appeared to endorse the request for dismissals. Earlier this year, helium expressed enactment for Mr Musk's takeover.

A big of large brands person halted advertizing spending with Twitter successful caller days amid the company's upheaval.

Mr Musk has been looking to alteration the platform's reliance connected adverts - and Saturday's update besides promised "half the ads".