Bolt from the blue: Elon Musk confirms Tweeple have to pay for blue verified badge...Here's his plan!

Taking over the helm of what has been a top global social media platform, Twitter Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elon Musk has begun initiating his overhaul drive in the micro-blogging site and his plans are gaining attraction with some sparking shockwaves and surprises. It seems like, under his leadership, Tweeple would experience what they haven't imagined before. 

In line with the drive, Twitter users would soon begin to embrace a monthly payment system for the blue verified badge- a parameter that Twitter uses to recognize the accounts that are authentic. The social media giant observes a process through which one can acquire the verified badge, which would give them a hassle-free experience. However, to keep enjoying such authenticity and experience, the users will have to pay for Twitter for what would look like a subscription model. 

Days after acquiring Twitter, Musk is actively getting into the business of revamping the site and asserted that the process of gaining the 'blue tick' will be revised. According to reports, Musk was planning to charge $20 per month from every user for the verification badge. Currently, such a blue tick is free of cost and would be awarded to those who adhere to Twitter standards. In a bolt from blue development, Musk has decided to levy a charge to enjoy the verification from his company.  

The update has stunned millions of Twitter users and was in the spotlight with users expecting an official announcement from Musk. Now, he has come up with the confirmation that Tweeple have to pay for the verification badge and he did it when responding to one angry user who expressed his outcry against paying for the badge. On the front of why he has decided to introduce the model, Musk contended that "Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers." 

Replying to a user who asked, "$20 a month to keep my blue check?", Musk said, "We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?". In another tweet under the same thread, the world's richest man wrote, "I will explain the rationale in longer form before this is implemented. It is the only way to defeat the bots & trolls." 

His tweet has been going viral and if implemented at a price of $8, the verified users in India have to pay around Rs 650 per month to retain the 'blue tick'. Musk's plan of revamping has stirred a debate on what would come up from Twitter under his leadership. Elon Musk has officially taken over Twitter last Friday after completing the acquisition process for $44 billion and it must be noted that Musk had expressed his concerns about the verification process, denoting that there would be a change after the takeover. 

According to the tech website The Verge, the plan involves quadrupling the price for the verification badge and the verified users would be given 90 days to subscribe to the plan, failing which they would end up losing their blue tick. Besides sparking a debate, Musk's plan to charge for the blue tick has triggered memes that were overflowing on Twitter. 

 

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