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With an emphasis on the Twitter Blue subscription service, Elon Musk and Twitter have been collaborating to improve the organization’s revenue model.
On Monday, the social media company revealed a new iteration of Twitter Blue.
Last month, Elon Musk halted and postponed the launch, which prompted the upgrade.
Apple service
For web users, Twitter Blue is $8 per month; however, Apple customers are in for a shock since the subscription costs them $11.
There is an additional $3 fee for iOS users who purchase the subscription through the Apple App Store.
The price rise is a result of Elon Musk, the new owner, lately expressing his displeasure with the tech giant’s 30% decline in digital revenue generated by applications.
The cut
Musk began criticizing Apple in November over its decreased Twitter advertising expenditures and its 30% decline in digital sales due to applications.
Tesla’s CEO added that Apple has threatened to remove Twitter from the App Store.
Musk said that he was “going to war” in a later deleted tweet.
Additionally, he suggested he would design his own brand of cellphones from the ground up.
Apple’s reactions
Apple CEO Tim Cook remained silent on Musk’s activities despite numerous provocations.
From a commercial standpoint, Twitter is just another app, and the major tech company doesn’t make much money from its in-app transactions.
Read also: Apple upgrades iCloud security for user safety
Government intervention
Republicans JD Vance, the next senator from Ohio, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis advised Musk on how to pressure Apple.
DeSantis stated that Congress should investigate Apple’s use of monopoly power if it carried out its threat to fire Twitter.
“You also hear reports Apple is threatening to remove Twitter from the App Store because Elon Musk is actually opening it up for free speech,” said DeSantis.
“And [Musk] is restoring a lot of accounts that were unfairly and illegitimately suspended for putting out accurate information about Covid.”
“If Apple responds to that by nuking them from the app store, I think that would be a huge, huge mistake, and it would be a really raw exercise of monopolistic power.”
On the other hand, JD Vance expressed similar views and said:
“This would be the most raw exercise of monopoly power in a century, and no civilized country should allow it.”
Previous pullouts
The digital behemoths will likely delist Twitter’s app from the App Store if Apple stops collecting platform fees.
Fortnite launched a feature to the iPhone app in 2020 that allowed players to purchase in-game cash from Epic Games directly, lessening Apple’s typical 30% cut of purchases.
Apple took Fortnite off the App Store the same day.
Later, Apple prevailed in a court battle with the other party.
An appeal, however, is still ongoing.
Musk wants to generate more revenue through Twitter subscriptions rather than through adverts.
Twitter is cutting costs while carrying a sizable debt, which reduces Apple’s advertising, a significant challenge.
The subscription
Twitter announced on Saturday that users with verified phone numbers would see a blue checkmark when an account is reviewed and approved.
Subscribers to the Blue service will have access to exclusive features and services, such as tweet editing.
Twitter also promised users the following:
- Fewer ads on their timeline
- The option to post longer videos
- Priority in replies and mentions
The relaunch includes a feature that enables companies to get a gold checkmark.
To avoid impersonations, governments will also have a gray checkmark.
Users can modify their username, display name, and profile photo, according to Twitter.
But if they did, their blue check would be forfeited until their account was again examined.
Elon Musk also disclosed that there would be other functionalities.
Early launch
An early version of Twitter Blue went live in November.
After some users started mimicking companies, the government, and prominent people, Musk promptly shut down the service.
One account tweeted that insulin was free while posing as the pharmaceutical company Eli Lily.
As a result of the false assertion, the company’s stock price fell sharply.
The same issue also plagued the website of the pharmaceutical business AbbVie.
It was once more delayed despite Musk’s assurances that the service would resume on November 29.
Read also: Meta threatens to remove news content on FB
Musk
The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX paid $44 billion in October to purchase the social media site.
He has concentrated on Twitter Blue since taking over to replace advertising revenue.
The “huge lever” and the power of the people would be provided by the new verification mechanism, according to Musk.
Before his acquisition, Musk was a vociferous opponent of Twitter’s prior verification process since it favored users like:
- Politicians
- Executives
- Members of the press
- Organizations
Other social networking sites operated by Meta, like Facebook and Instagram, utilize similar verification mechanisms.
Users who were verified under Twitter’s previous strategy are now regarded as legacy verified accounts that “may not be notable” due to the debut of the new service.
Elon Musk announced Monday that all legacy blue checks would soon be destroyed.
“The way in which they were given out was corrupt and nonsensical,” said Musk.
References:
Twitter Blue relaunches, now costs $11 per month if you subscribe from an iPhone
