Twitter is set to implement its new rules for accounts to keep their verified status. Companies that are currently using their accounts with blue checkmarks will start paying a monthly fee of $1,000. According to the latest reports, however, not all companies will be required to pay for verification as Twitter's most-followed organizations will be exempted.
Twitter's Top 500 Advertisers to Also Get a Free Pass from Monthly Fee
One of the most controversial changes to happen on Twitter since Tesla CEO Elon Musk took over the social media company is the monetization of the verification badge. As reported by The New York Times, Twitter will start charging $1,000 a month to organizations who wish to keep their checkmarks. However, the platform's top 10,000 organizations based on the number of followers will be exempted from the monthly dues.
Twitter's top 500 advertisers will also keep their verified status for free. The latest reports suggest that Twitter is now setting its focus on the verification of organizations' accounts, as it is now almost finished with legacy verified accounts.
Under Twitter's latest rule, companies will pay $1,000 a month for the account checkmarks, and they must also identify which accounts are affiliated with them. In the case of a newsroom organization, they must denote all the journalists connected to their company. The journalists will also get to keep their checkmarks, which will serve as proof that they are affiliated with a media organization as they conduct their interviews.
However, as The Verge reported, companies will have to pay $50 a month for each affiliated account in addition to $1,000 that they have to pay for the organization checkmark. It is also uncertain if there will be more fees to be charged in the future.
Brands can also avail checkmarks to verify personalities that are affiliated with them. Twitter's latest verification program is said to prevent cases of impersonation. Aside from organizations, ordinary accounts may also get a blue checkmark as proof of their verified identities via Twitter Blue.
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Some Big Companies Refuse to Pay $1,000 Per Month to Twitter
A verification badge is an indication of an account's credibility to engage in transactions. Now that Twitter will begin charging for its checkmarks, emerging companies may have a hard time establishing their market base on the platform as it will be difficult for them to obtain a verification badge, as per Search Engine Land.
Furthermore, Twitter exempting top advertisers and most followed companies puts smaller organizations at a disadvantage. As Twitter proceeds with its organization program, big media outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed, Vox Media and The Washington Post said that they are not going to pay $1,000 per month to keep the verification badge in their official Twitter accounts. This is according to CNN, which also announced its refusal to pay the monthly fee for its badge.
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