Twitter owner Elon Musk clapped back at verified users on Wednesday who grumbled about the billionaire’s decision to charge an $8-per-month in exchanged for blue check marks.
Musk’s decision to overhaul Twitter’s verification process with a subscription-based model has rankled many prominent figures this week, with famed author Stephen King among those who say they will not pay the fee.
“To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8,” Musk said in a tweet posted late Tuesday night.
“Totally stole idea of charging for insults & arguments from Monty Python tbh,” Musk added alongside a clip of the comedy troupe.
The $8 monthly price tag is cheaper than the $20-per-month fee that Musk initially planned to charge, according to the multiple reports. Musk has reportedly given Twitter’s developers until the end of the week to complete his overhaul of the “Twitter Blue” subscription service – with employees potentially facing the ax if they are unable to meet the deadline.
Musk provided more detail about his plans for the next iteration of Twitter’s verification process in a lengthy Twitter thread earlier on Tuesday.
The new Twitter CEO decried what he referred to as a “lords & peasants system” for verification the platform previously utilized, where company officials determined who was and was not verified.
“Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bulls–t,” Musk tweeted. “Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.”
Musk noted that Twitter users willing to pay the monthly fee will receive other perks, including priority placement in reply threads and searches as well as reduced ads and the ability to post longform audio and video content.
Musk, who also serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, said his plan would “destroy the bots” by raising the “cost of crime” on the platform, with any verified used who posts spam subject to an account suspension.
The Twitter boss owner is also aiming to secure new sources of revenue while the company comes under pressure from various advertisers wary of what Musk’s ownership will mean for content moderation.
As The Post reported, top ad firms and executives are making contingency plans to move their spending budgets to other platforms. Interpublic Group, or IPG, has already recommended that its clients pause spending on Twitter during a recent spike in hate speech since Musk’s takeover was complete.
Meanwhile, Musk has pledged to ensure that Twitter does not become a “free-for-all hellscape” despite his plan to dial back content moderation.