Twitter plans on relaunching Twitter Blue on Monday. The price is going up to $11 USD a month if you subscribe and pay within the iOS app or $8 USD a month via the web. The price difference is Chief Twit’s way to offset Apple Inc. 225,12 +0,89 +0,40% ‘30% cut’ they take from all iOS transactions. There will also be new verification measures in place for those who want the “Blue Checkmark”

we’re relaunching @TwitterBlue on Monday – subscribe on web for $8/month or on iOS for $11/month to get access to subscriber-only features, including the blue checkmark 🧵 pic.twitter.com/DvvsLoSO50

— Twitter (@Twitter) December 10, 2022

Additionally, the company says it has implemented new measures to prevent a repeat of what happened last month. To start, users who want to display a blue checkmark on their profile will need to register with a phone number after subscribing to the service. Twitter adds subscribers can change their handle, display name and profile photo after obtaining verified status, but the company will temporarily take away their blue checkmark while it reviews their account again. “We’ve added a review step before applying a blue checkmark to an account as one of our new steps to combat impersonation (which is against the Twitter Rules,” said Twitter product manager Esther Crawford in a separate thread.

Not sure how registering with a phone number is going to combat the fraud. What is to stop someone from registering and using a Google Voice (from a ‘burner’ Gmail address) or even a ‘burner’ (prepaid) phone number? Unless Twitter will not allow the use of those type of numbers when registering. Activision Blizzard had tried a similar approach when Overwatch 2 was released, but ended up abandoning that restriction due to user outcry. Also, still wonder if Twitter is going to get into legal/regulatory troubles by charging users more who pay for their subscription within the iOS app.

Also, this coming week Twitter  is supposed to re-introduce the Grey aka Official checkmarks for businesses/media and government agencies. They had tried this before, but that launch only lasted a few hour before the checkmarks disappeared. There will be another color added, Gold for government and “multilateral” accounts. Grey will be reserved for businesses. There will no longer be an ‘official’ label.

via Engadget