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Spoiler alert: Twitter does not want to pay Elon Musk $20 for verification

My opinion? No.

Tim Marcin

on October 31, 2022

Elon Musk apparently wants folks to pay up for that check mark. Credit: Nikolas Kokovlis / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Elon Musk, the newly crowned Chief Twit, wants people to pony up for that blue check.

It's been reported that Musk is considering making verification a Twitter Blue feature, while also ramping up the cost of the service to $20 per month. In effect, Twitter would essentially be charging its users for verification — and most of the internet is convinced they wouldn't pay up. Because who would pay for a silly little check mark?

The jokes about it were good, to be honest.

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Others were offended at the idea that Twitter would charge for a verification, a process that was created to protect against identity theft on the app.

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Meanwhile, some users were pointing out that this new verification plan could be a nightmare for disinformation. For example, many journalists on the app are verified in an attempt to help users discern if info on Twitter is coming from a reliable source.

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As a journalist, I am verified on Twitter. And unless my work requires it — and pays for it — there is a zero point zero percent chance I will pay to keep my verification. One: That is a ridiculously high price. Two: A single cent would be too much. Sure, verification is nice for work and probably boosts the visibility of my account, but paying to keep a blue check? That is extreme loser behavior. No way.

Anyway follow me @timmarcin — it's the real me, check mark or not.

Topics X/Twitter Elon Musk

Tim Marcin

Associate Editor, Culture

Tim Marcin is an Associate Editor on the culture team at Mashable, where he mostly digs into the weird parts of the internet. You'll also see some coverage of memes, tech, sports, trends, and the occasional hot take. You can find him on Bluesky (sometimes), Instagram (infrequently), or eating Buffalo wings (as often as possible).