United States: Twitter is to relaunch its subscription service. Users may now purchase verified status for $8 per month or $11 per month for iPhones. The decision comes after a botched revamp of the program last month that led to the appearance of several fake identities on the platform as some users seized the opportunity to create false “verified” accounts for well-known brands and prominent people.

“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,” Twitter stated.

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

Twitter did not explain why Apple users were being charged more than others on the web but Mr. Musk has been outspoken in his criticism of Apple’s app store fees, which may be as high as 30 percent of sales. According to Twitter’s website, the blue tick feature is “currently accessible on iOS only in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, with plans to expand.”

Twitter stated that giving priority to subscribers would help combat “scams and spam,” making reference to one of Mr. Elon Musk’s bugbears and the reason he tried to back out of a deal to purchase the company. Twitter’s head was worried about obnoxious automated accounts and attempted to walk away from the deal.

Subscribers who attempt to change their handle, display name or photo will temporarily lose their tick until the account is reviewed again, Twitter shared.

Mr. Musk has made it clear that he wants Twitter to rely less on advertising, which generated $5.1 billion in revenue for the company last year and made 90 percent of its total revenue. This need has become more pressing when the CEO of Tesla claimed a “huge reduction in revenue” as a result of advertisers leaving the platform over worries about content moderation, which were made worse by the emergence of “certified” impostor accounts.

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