Musk says Twitter will change user verification

Elon Musk tweeted on Sunday, October 30 that Twitter will alter its user authentication procedure just days after he assumed control of one of the world’s most popular social media networks.

“The entire verification process is being overhauled right now,” Musk tweeted, without providing further details.

Twitter is considering charging for the coveted blue check mark that verifies an account holder’s identity, according to the technology weekly Platformer, which cited two people familiar with the topic.

According to the article, users would be required to subscribe to Twitter Blue for $4.99 per month or lose their “verified” badges if the scheme comes forward.

The CEO of Tesla Inc has not yet made a final decision, and the project could still be abandoned, but it is likely that verification will become a component of Twitter Blue, according to Platformer.

Separately, The Verge claimed on Sunday that Twitter will boost the monthly subscription fee for Twitter Blue, which also validates users, from $4.99 per month to $19.99 per month, citing internal Twitter correspondence.

Twitter Blue, the platform’s first subscription service, was introduced in June of last year and offers “exclusive access to premium features” for a monthly fee, including the ability to edit tweets.

The ability to modify tweets was also made accessible earlier this month, after Musk’s April Twitter poll asking his millions of followers if they desired an edit button. Over 70% had answered yes.

Musk has also reportedly demanded that logged-out Twitter users be moved to the Explore tab, which displays trending tweets, according to a separate Sunday story from The Verge citing workers familiar with the situation.