Twitter has put a stop to its earlier plans of allowing only paid subscribers to appear on the “For You” timeline. The plan was deemed controversial and faced backlash from users who saw it as an attempt to monetize the site even further. This decision ultimately comes after Elon Musk, who is an avid user and supporter of the platform, suggested that only verified accounts should feature on “For You” to combat the AI bot spam issue.
Elon Musk’s Plans for Changing Twitter’s Verification System
Last year, Musk implemented a pay-for-checkmark verification program for Twitter, which led to several trolls creating fake accounts. As such, the blue checkmarks lost their significance on the app as they were being used by anyone willing to pay $8. In addition, Musk has been warning that legacy verified accounts will lose their blue checks, causing concern among users and brands. The company’s CEO announced that all unverified accounts will lose their blue checks on April 1st.
Musk also suggested that only verified accounts should appear on “For You” but later walked back from that statement. Any changes to the verification system would require attention and clarity, as blue checks are considered significant cultural figures or people willing to pay $8 to Musk, making it a complicated matter.
Elon Musk’s Plan for Shifting Twitter Away from Being Ad-Dependent
Musk had implied that soon enough, Twitter would only display tweets from paid subscribers in the default feed instead of advertisements. The “For You” tab currently curates tweets using an algorithm while Musk stated it would soon only recommend premium Twitter Blue users. Accounts users follow directly will still appear in the “For You” tab while verified accounts will be eligible for inclusion starting April 15th.
Musk believes this move is necessary as AI bot swarms continue to take over platforms, and voter verification has become critical for preventing the spread of misinformation. Voting in polls will require verification for the same reason. Although advertisers do generate significant revenue for Twitter, a portion of their ad base has left since Musk took over Twitter in October. Users who had free blue checkmarks will lose that verification unless they agree to pay a subscription fee starting in April.
Elon Musk’s Poll and William Shatner’s Objection
Musk regularly posts his own polls on Twitter to gain insight into user behavior on the platform. However, one poll generated significant attention when over 10 million users voted in favor of Musk stepping down as head of the company.
The plan to allow only paid subscribers to appear on “For You” also saw some backlash from actor William Shatner, who took issue with paying for the checkmark. Musk responded by saying it is more about treating everyone equally and not having a different standard for celebrities.
In conclusion, while Musk’s suggestions challenged Twitter’s user experience and sparked controversy, it ultimately forced the company to revisit and reverse its decision on paid users. This shift will reassure many users that Twitter remains committed to providing an inclusive experience for all users, both paid and non-paid subscribers alike. Only time will tell how Twitter can adapt to the changing social media landscape while continuing to grow its user base and generate revenue without alienating its core audiences.
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