Elon Musk proposes selling Twitter 'blue tick' verification for $8 a month

Price would be adjusted for subscribers in poorer countries

Elon Musk's Twitter account, which has a blue tick. Reuters

Twitter's new owner Elon Musk on Tuesday said the platform would be offering an $8-per-month subscription model that would give users a blue tick, among other benefits.

The issue of the “blue checkmark” has been a contentious one that Mr Musk has voiced frustration over in the past.

Currently, Twitter sometimes places a blue tick next to a user's name to show that it is a genuine account. Verified users must provide proof of their identity or an official email address.

But many Twitter users argue the system is arbitrary, with accounts with tens of thousands of followers being denied the cherished tick while other, often much smaller accounts get the blue stamp of approval.

In a series of tweets, Mr Musk, the world's richest man, decried the current practice as a “lords and peasants” system.

He said subscribers to the new system would get benefits beyond the tick mark, including fewer advertisements and the ability to post long video and audio.

Mr Musk also said the price would be adjusted by country, “proportionate to purchasing power parity”.

Mr Musk's comments come as he seeks to increase revenue for Twitter, which cost him $44 billion.

Twitter last year launched its first subscription service, Twitter Blue, which offers users access to premium features and editing tweets.

Big year for Elon Musk as he closes $44bn Twitter deal — in pictures

After months of negotiations, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk finally purchased Twitter on October 27. AFP

The billionaire took control of microblogging platform and fired its top executives, including chief executive Parag Agrawal, left, as well as the company's chief financial officer and its head of legal policy, trust and safety. AFP

Elon Musk entering Twitter headquarters carrying a sink through the lobby area on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Musk posted a video Wednesday showing him strolling into Twitter headquarters ahead of a Friday deadline to close his $44 billion deal to buy the company. AP

Mr Musk and his children Damian, Kai, Saxon and Griffin met Pope Francis in July at the Vatican. AFP

Mr Musk speaks by video in June to the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha. Bloomberg

Mr Musk answers questions at the Qatar Economic Forum. Bloomberg

Mr Musk arrives at the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in May. Reuters

Mr Musk and his mother Maye Musk arrive at the Met Gala in May. AFP

Mother and son pose and laugh on the Met Gala red carpet. EPA

Mr Musk waves at the Met Gala. Reuters

Mr Musk joins in online at the 'Financial Times' Future of the Car Summit in May. Financial Times

Mr Musk attends the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, in March. Reuters

Mr Musk at the Tesla factory in Berlin, Germany, in March. AP

Mr Musk speaks at SpaceX's Starbase centre in South Texas in February. AFP

The entrepreneur shakes hands with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Porto Feliz, Brazil, in May. AP

Mr Bolsonaro and Mr Musk greet each other in Sao Paulo. Reuters

Indonesian President Joko Widodo meets Mr Musk at the SpaceX launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, in May. Reuters

Mr Musk shows Mr Widodo his mobile phone during a tour of the SpaceX launch site in Texas. Reuters