Twitter users, get ready for an ad-free experience! In a surprise announcement on Saturday, Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted that a higher-priced subscription of the social media platform will not carry advertisements. Musk also mentioned that ads are “too frequent on Twitter and too big,” and that steps will be taken to address these issues in the coming weeks.
Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the news has sent ripples of excitement among users who are tired of the constant stream of advertisements on the platform. Twitter earns nearly 90 percent of its revenue from selling digital ads, and Musk recently attributed a “massive drop in revenue” to rights organizations that have pressured brands to pause their Twitter ads.
In December, Musk hinted at a change in the way Twitter operates by announcing that Twitter’s Basic blue tick will have half the number of advertisements and that it will offer a higher tier with no advertisements by 2023. And last week, Twitter made it official by announcing that they would be pricing Twitter Blue subscription for Android at $11 per month – the same as for iOS subscribers. But that’s not all, Twitter is also offering a cheaper annual plan for web users when compared to monthly charges.
The blue check mark, previously free for verified accounts of politicians, famous personalities, journalists, and other public figures, will now be open to anyone prepared to pay. This change was rolled out last year to help Twitter grow revenue as owner Elon Musk fights to retain advertisers. Google’s Android users will be able to purchase Twitter Blue’s monthly subscription for $11, the same price as Apple’s iOS users. The higher pricing for Android users is likely to offset fees charged by Android’s Google Play Store, like Apple’s App Store.
The annual plan for subscription to Blue, only available on the web, was priced at $84, a discount to the monthly web subscription price of $8. The discount for web users would be available in countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. So, whether you’re a verified celebrity or just an average Joe, you can now enjoy an ad-free Twitter experience for a small fee. Happy tweeting!
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