Twitter’s Pay-to-Play Overhaul: Poll Access and ‘ Twitter For You’ Section Limited to Verified Users
Elon Musk Restricts Features for Non-Paying Users
Poll Access and ‘ Twitter For You’ Section Limited to Verified Users
Under CEO Elon Musk’s leadership, Twitter is undergoing a series of significant changes. In a recent tweet, Musk announced that only verified accounts will be eligible for the “For You” recommendations and poll participation beginning April 15th. He attributed this decision to the growing influence of AI bot swarms on the platform.
Starting April 15th, only verified accounts will be eligible to be in For You recommendations.
The is the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over. It is otherwise a hopeless losing battle.
Voting in polls will require verification for same reason.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2023
The True Motive: Driving Twitter Blue Subscriptions
While Musk continues to use the bot takeover argument as justification for these changes, it is evident that his primary objective is to increase the number of paid subscribers on the platform. The only way to achieve verified status on Twitter now is by subscribing to Twitter Blue, the platform’s $8 per month subscription service. This paywall strategy is a clear attempt to boost Twitter’s revenue through direct subscriptions.
Transitioning from Bonus Features to Essential Functions
The Evolution of Twitter Blue and Its Impact on Users: Twitter Blue initially provided subscribers with additional features such as an edit button and enhanced organization tools. However, Musk has gradually shifted several essential features from the free tier to the paid-only category. For instance, two-factor authentication became exclusive to Twitter Blue users in February.
Changes to the ‘For You’ Timeline and Poll Participation
According to Musk’s recent announcement, the “For You” timeline, which offers algorithmically generated content recommendations, will display tweets from verified users only starting April 15th. Additionally, poll participation will be restricted to paying subscribers with blue checkmarks. These moves seem to be geared towards increasing Twitter’s revenue rather than promoting user engagement.
Celebrity Favoritism and VIP Users
Musk has claimed that his efforts to promote Twitter Blue are aimed at leveling the playing field and eliminating celebrity favoritism. However, this assertion contradicts recent reports that Musk has incorporated favoritism into Twitter’s algorithms. Platformer revealed that approximately 35 VIP users, including Musk himself, receive artificial boosts on the platform. Ultimately, the primary motivation behind these changes appears to be financial.
Slow Adoption of Twitter Blue and Loss of Ad Revenue
Musk’s aggressive push to increase Twitter’s revenue through subscriptions has not been met with overwhelming success. As of mid-January, fewer than 200,000 people in the US had subscribed to Twitter Blue, representing just 0.2% of the platform’s US monthly users. In addition to the slow adoption of the subscription service, Twitter has experienced a significant loss of ad revenue due to free speech controversies and broader economic challenges.
Will Musk’s Strategy Pay Off?
Twitter is in desperate need of funds, especially in light of the massive debt the company incurred through Musk’s $44 billion acquisition deal. However, the recent changes implemented by the CEO are unlikely to yield short-term success. Removing essential features like two-factor authentication, limiting access to the verified system that helped minimize impersonations, and shifting more platform features behind a paywall are not likely to boost the platform’s popularity or revenue.
This lack of progress might explain why Musk has hinted internally that Twitter is now worth less than half of what he paid for it. Moving forward, the platform’s success may depend on its ability to strike a balance between generating revenue and providing a satisfying experience for all users.
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