
Introduction
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Elon
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Should
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What
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What
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Who
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Why
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Conclusion |
On April 1, Twitter will be changing its account verification policy. This means that if you are a verified user, you must pay $84 a year for a Twitter Blue subscription in order to keep your checkmark.
This change is likely to be jarring for some verified users who have grown used to having the checkmark beside their profile name. After all, the checkmark has become associated with trust and credibility on Twitter, and many users have come to depend on it to build their brand and reach more customers.
Fortunately, there are ways to keep your checkmark without spending any extra money. In this article, we explore how verified users can save on the cost of Twitter Blue while still keeping their coveted checkmarks. We’ll show you how easy it is to optimize your page setup and incorporate measures like using verification badges or sponsored posts so that you can maintain the authenticity of your account without breaking the bank.
Elon Musk Sparks Change in Twitter Legacy Feature
Elon Musk’s unpredictable influence has come to Twitter. Everyone’s favorite tech mogul sparked changes in the company’s legacy feature—Twitter Checkmarks—which is now only available with a paid subscription, Twitter Blue. This means if you want to keep your checkmark as of April 1, you’ll have to shell out $84 per year for the premium service.
The Checkmark was one of the few ways users could establish their credibility, and such an influential feature didn’t come with a price tag before Musk’s announcement on March 5. While it doesn’t appear that Musk requested Twitter to make this move, it seems likely that his comments caused Twitter to re-evaluate the situation and make a decision quickly—no doubt hoping for something in return from its largest user base.
So what does this mean for you? If you want to retain your checkmark, there’s only one way: Sign up for Twitter Blue before April 1. Will it be worth it? That depends on how valuable having a checkmark is for you and how much stock you put into it when engaging with your followers.
Should High Profile Profiles Pay for Twitter Blue?
On April 1, Twitter is rolling out its new subscription service, Twitter Blue, which offers exclusive features for a fee. Among those features is the ability to keep your verified badge—Twitter’s iconic blue checkmark. So if you have the blue checkmark now, you will need to pay $84 per year in order to retain it by April 1.
For high-profile accounts—those with more than 100K followers and companies that appear on the public stock exchange—this may be an easy decision. The blue checkmark not only lends authenticity and legitimacy to those accounts but acts as a status symbol that conveys influence. Consider it a branding tool that could potentially yield more customers or investors if leveraged correctly.
But if you’re just getting started, there are better ways to spend $84/year than on Twitter Blue. Building a personal brand takes time and hard work; consider using that money instead to invest in courses or resources to help you gain traction faster without needing the blue checkmark for validation.
What Is Twitter Blue?

So what is this elusive new subscription-based feature that you have to pay for? Twitter Blue offers premium tools and services that only subscribers can access.
Features
Some of the perks of Twitter Blue include:
- The ability to Undo Tweets, allowing you to unsend a Tweet up to 30 seconds after you’ve posted it.
- Bookmark Folders and Collections, so you can organize your saved tweets into folders, like a filing cabinet for your favorite Tweets.
- Reader Mode for a distraction-free view of long threads, so you can easily follow along with the conversation without getting lost in the back and forth dialog.
- Customizable App Icons on iOS, so that your Twitter app stands out from all the other apps on your phone.
These features are designed to help power users get more out of their experience with Twitter—including personality verification. After all, with great power comes great responsibility – and authenticity!
What Features Does It Include?
So, what features will you get if you pay $84/year for Twitter Blue?
First and foremost, you’ll get the ability to keep your verified status – that all-important checkmark next to your name. This is a great way to gain credibility and trust amongst your followers.
Twitter Blue also provides you with even more ways to personalize your profile, including:
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The ability to group your Tweets into custom collections (for easy viewing)
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An ‘undo’ option so you can choose when and how your Tweets go out
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A separate tab where you can manage several accounts at once
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The option to save drafts of upcoming Tweets for further editing before they are posted
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Access to reader mode for a more focused Twitter experience
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Custom app themes & colors so you can make your Twitter look just the way you like it
Whether it’s worth the cost, only time will tell – but these are definitely some appealing features, especially for those wanting an extra edge on their Twitter account!
Who Is Exempt From the Charge?
Whether you will be required to pay for Twitter Blue or not depends on your verification status. The $84/year fee applies to those who verified their accounts after August 2, 2020.
But don’t worry—if you already have a verified account, you’re off the hook! This means verified accounts established before August 2, 2020 and their owners are exempt from the charge.
If your account no longer shows the blue checkmark even though it was created before August 2nd, you can go through the recertification process if you wish. Simply fill out the form here, and click submit to retain your verified status and enjoy all the perks that come with it.
Why Has Twitter Decided to Charge for Checkmarks?
It may come as a shock that Twitter has decided to make verified users pay $84 a year for the privilege of keeping their checkmark status. But there are reasons why this change has been implemented.
Access to Experiences Not Available to Everyone
Verified users can have access to experiences not available to everyone on Twitter, such as exclusive events and content, deeper insights about their accounts, and direct access to customer support.
Maintenance and Monitoring Costs
The costs associated with maintaining the verification program are high, especially when it comes to monitoring accounts for new updates or policy changes. Verified accounts must remain in compliance with all the rules and regulations of Twitter – something that requires resources and manpower which costs money.
Incentive for Regular Use
The goal of Twitter Blue is also to offer an incentive for regular use of the platform so people can stay engaged with their followers. This is beneficial for both verified users and Twitter itself – as verified users are seen as influential figures on the platform, their engagement will help increase overall user interaction and interaction with advertisements.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that Twitter is getting more restrictive when it comes to its cherished legacy checkmark. With the new rules coming into effect April 1, 2021, high profile users such as Elon Musk will have to pay $84/year to retain the privilege of having a blue checkmark. Without this payment, users are likely to lose the checkmark that has become a symbol of authenticity and a sought-after status symbol.
Ultimately, Twitter’s move shows that it is looking to monetize its most valued members of society, a decision that sits well with the company’s core values. Although the decision may not be well-received by its userbase, it’s essential to understand that the move is ultimately made to ensure that its users get the best experience possible.