AFP
News from the NOS•
From today, Twitter users can take out a subscription in several countries that provides them with a paid verified account. This account, which can be recognized by a blue check mark behind the username, is currently reserved for a small group of twitterers. Among others, large companies and public figures are eligible.
It was already clear that new Twitter owner Elon Musk was planning a subscription service familiar. For now, the service is only available on Apple devices in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Users can get a blue tick there for $ 7.99 per month.
The blue check mark system was introduced in 2009 to prevent the creation of fake accounts for politicians and celebrities. For some years now, every Twitter user has been able to request this tick, after which the social network verifies the authenticity of the user. If this shows that the user is “eminent” enough and can prove her identity, the twitterer will receive a blue check mark next to her username.
Thanks to that check, other Twitter users know for a fact that an account has been verified and therefore really belongs to the person in question. Experts fear that the new subscription system means that users will no longer be able to determine if accounts are genuine or not.
The launch of the new system comes the day after Twitter owner Musk announced that half of the company’s employees will lose their jobs. According to Musk, who paid more than 44 billion euros to buy Twitter, the mass layoff is necessary to ensure the tech company’s success in the future.
