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Musk causing Twitter frenzy over plans to charge $20 monthly for verification


Now that Elon Musk has completed his $44 billion takeover of Twitter, the new “Chief Twit” is wasting no time switching up the platform. The Verge reported that Musk is looking to change Twitter Blue, the company’s optional, $4.99-per-month subscription that unlocks additional features, into a more expensive subscription that also verifies users.

It could soon cost $20 per month and would be a requirement to receive a verified blue check mark. This verified symbol is currently free and often seen next to the Twitter handles of journalists, politicians and celebrities.

Under the current plan, verified users would have 90 days to subscribe or lose their blue checkmark. Employees working on the project were told on Sunday that they need to meet a deadline of Nov. 7 to launch the feature or they will be fired, as reported by the Verge.

Meanwhile, Musk is actively laying off significant portions of Twitter’s workforce and grappling with the reality of free speech on the platform.

The space billionaire once branded himself a “free speech absolutist.” However users are testing the limits now that he owns one of the largest platforms ever.

The Washington Post reported that hateful and bigoted posts spiked on Twitter shortly after the takeover. But Musk said the platform is not about to become a free-for-all forum. He said he’s in the process of forming a content moderation council with diverse viewpoints.

In a tweet, Musk said, “No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes.”

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MAHMOUD BENNETT: NOW THAT ELON MUSK HAS TAKEN OVER TWITTER – HE’S WASTING NO TIME SWITCHING UP THE PLATFORM AS THE NEW CHIEF TWIT.

THE 44 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL WAS WAY OVERPRICED ACCORDING TO MUSK – NOW HE’S LOOKING AT WAYS TO RAKE IN SOME TWITTER CASH.

MUSK IS REPORTEDLY QUADRUPLING THE PRICE OF THE TWITTER BLUE SUBSCRIPTION PLAN – AND IT COULD SOON COST 20 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR A VERIFIED BLUE CHECK MARK.

THIS VERIFIED SYMBOL – YOU SEE ALONGSIDE JOURNALISTS, POLITICIANS AND CELEBRITIES – IS CURRENTLY FREE.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE VERGE, IN ABOUT 90 DAYS VERIFIED USERS WILL HAVE AN ULTIMATUM – SUBSCRIBE TO THAT 20 DOLLAR PLAN OR HAVE YOUR VERIFICATION REVOKED.

MEANWHILE MUSK IS ACTIVELY LAYING OFF SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF TWITTER’S WORKFORCE,  AND GRAPPLING WITH THE REALITY OF FREE SPEECH ON THE PLATFORM.

THE SPACE BILLIONAIRE ONCE BRANDED HIMSELF A “FREE SPEECH ABSOLUTIST” AND NOW THAT HE OWNS ONE OF THE LARGEST SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS EVER – USERS ARE TESTING THE LIMITS.

THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTS TWITTER SAW A NOTABLE SPIKE IN HATEFUL AND BIGOTED POSTS JUST HOURS AFTER MUSK ENTERED TWITTER HEADQUARTERS.

BUT MUSK SAYS THE PLATFORM IS NOT ABOUT TO BECOME A FREE FOR ALL HELL SCAPE – SAYING HE’S IN THE PROCESS OF FORMING A CONTENT MODERATION COUNCIL WITH WIDELY DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS