Toni Dimaano Tech 01.23.2023 02:Jan AM EST

Twitter Is Launching A More Expensive Ad-Free Subscription Tier, Elon Musk Says

A new, more costly Blue subscription tier for Twitter is being designed by the social network, enabling users to surf the platform without being interrupted by ads.

Although Twitter Blue's full feature set has not quite debuted, it appears like Musk has new goals after recently stating that he wants to take on Twitter's ads.

According to XDA Developers, users have seen numerous updates made to the platform after Elon Musk bought Twitter.

The launch of a new Twitter Blue membership service, which costs $8 a month and includes a blue verified badge, was possibly one of the biggest developments since.

Musk stated on Sunday that Twitter intends to provide a more expensive Blue subscription with no ads.

"Ads are too frequent on Twitter and too big. Taking steps to address both in coming weeks," the Twitter owner posted on Sunday.

Musk, who paid $44 billion to acquire Twitter in October 2022, declined to reveal how much the new tier will cost or when it will go live.

In addition, he does not specify how exactly these issues would be resolved or whether the improvements will only apply to Twitter Blue subscribers, though he did suggest they will come in the "coming weeks."

This might rank among the nicest features made available so far, providing timelines a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

However, the timing is odd given that certain third-party Twitter clients had already provided this capability, according to XDA Developers.

It is important to note that as of last week, those had been shut down due to a recent modification to the developer agreement.

Recently, Twitter began providing annual subscription rates for its Twitter Blue service, saving $1 off the standard monthly cost.

The Changes To Twitter Blue Started In November

Twitter Blue is presently available in the US for $11 a month when purchased directly through the Twitter iOS or Android app.

However, the service is $8 per month on the web, where Apple and Google's up to 30% commission on in-app purchases do not apply.

The option to view less adverts on the timeline has been one of Twitter's main selling points since the company redesigned the membership in November.

According to Engadget, however, when users try to sign up for the service, that benefit is still marked as "coming soon."

Since Musk bought the firm in October, some estimates indicate that Twitter's ad revenue has dropped dramatically.

A senior Twitter manager reportedly informed staff this past Tuesday that daily revenue was down 40% from the same day last year, according to a recent report.

Twitter attributes the fall to the first introduction of Twitter Blue, which saw the platform taken over by verified trolls who impersonated famous accounts, brands, and celebrities using the paid verification tool.

It is notable that the Blue tier's current features for the premium service include a verification checkmark, an undo-tweet option, bookmark folders for managing saved tweets, and personalized app icons.

Finally, compared to 4 minutes without a subscription, users may publish videos that are up to 60 minutes long via the web or 10 minutes long via iOS and Android.