Twitter’s subscription service Twitter Blue has now been launched in India, Brazil, and Indonesia on February 8.
Payment structure
The monthly subscription fee for iOS and Android users in India is ₹ 900 while the fee has been kept lower at ₹ 650 per month for the web.
Twitter also offers a discounted annual plan of Rs 6,800 per year, which translates to Rs 566.67 per month.
For perspective, the most expensive Netflix subscription in India costs ₹649 per month.
Disney+ Hotstar too, costs only ₹299 per month in India.
Features and advantages
However, Twitter’s plan is only available on the web and only for those who created their accounts more than 90 days ago.
The paid subscription adds the coveted blue checkmark next to users’ profile name.
It also gives them early access to features introduced by the microblogging platform like edit tweet, bookmark folders, custom app icons, and NFT profile pictures.
They get the advantage of being able to choose different colour themes for their app, prioritise their reply on tweets, and undo a tweet before it becomes visible to other users.
It has been made available on both iOS and Android devices while those using Twitter’s website can also buy it.
US pricing
In the US, Twitter Blue can be subscribed for $11 per month on Android and iOS devices and for $8 on web.
The annual plan costs $84 in the US.
Before the paid subscription, the blue tick was given to authentic accounts of famous personalities, politicians, journalists, and public figures.
Now anyone can simply buy it.
The higher subscription fee on iOS and Android devices is likely to offset the 15-30% commission fee levied by Apple and Google on subscriptions.
Other major perks
Twitter Blue has now expanded to 15 markets including the United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia among others, since its relaunch in December 2022.
Perks include verified Blue check mark and additional features including the ability to edit tweets, post longer videos of up to 60 minutes (2GB file size) through web, organise bookmarks, customise the app icon, add NFT profile pictures and get early access to new features.
Turning Tweets into MS Word-length paras
On February 8 Twitter Blue subscribers in the United States were given the ability to create long tweets of up to 4,000 characters.
They will be capped at 280 characters with a “show more” prompt.
The paid subscription also allows users to upload longer videos of up to 60 minutes or have a size of up to 2 GB.
Encouraging spam, and less ads?
Additionally, Twitter Blue lets users edit tweets up to five times within 30 minutes of publishing.
Subscribers soon will also see 50% fewer ads in their home timeline and their tweets will also get priority in terms of visibility in mentions, search, and replies.
Twitter Blue is one of the company’s key initiatives to diversify its revenue streams beyond advertising.
Grasping at straws
Last November Musk had told employees that he wants at least half of the company’s revenue to come from subscriptions in order to cut the social media firm’s reliance on advertising.
The owner also said that Twitter is on track to make about $3 billion in 2023.
However, the reception hasn’t been all that great.
Only 180,000 people in the United States have been a paying member as of mid-January, which accounts for less than 0.2% of the company’s monthly active users in the country.
This indicates 290,000 subscribers globally and around $28 million in annual revenue, less than 1% of the $3 billion that Twitter intends to make this year.
Present availability
Twitter Blue is currently available on web, iOS, or Android only in India, Canada, US, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, the UK, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Australia and Indonesia, aiming to expand in other countries.
New users wouldn’t be able to subscribe to Twitter Blue for 90 days and a waiting period could be imposed without any notice.
Subscribing from mobile device
Tap on your profile pic icon from the top left corner of the screen and you will see ‘Twitter Blue’.
Click on it and Twitter will now redirect you to the page from where you can purchase the subscription.
Those using the web version of Twitter can see the option on the left side of the screen.
Do note that if your account has been inactive for the last 30 days or more, you will not be able to purchase the subscription.
Word of caution
Twitter states:
“Only Twitter accounts created more than 90 days ago can sign up for Twitter Blue.
All Twitter Blue subscribers will be required to confirm their phone number as part of the sign-up.
Once subscribed to Twitter Blue, changes to your profile photo, display name, or username (@handle) will result in the loss of the blue checkmark until the account is validated as continuing to meet our requirements, and no further changes will be allowed during this review period.”
Twitter had earlier said that existing members with a verified badge would also need to get a Twitter Blue subscription.
However, it is yet to provide a timeline for when users need to subscribe to retain their badge.
