Twitter plans to charge $20 a month for user verification 

Twitter might start charging its users for its verification badges as it seeks new ways to generate revenue following Elon Musk’s $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, according to sources familiar with the matter. 

The sources said that Twitter executives spent the weekend discussing possible changes to the social media platform, including having users pay to keep their verification badges. 

While most platforms verify the identity of their users for free, Twitter might charge users as much as $19.99 a month to continue to be verified, making it the first major American social media app to do so. 

Musk has previously described the current verification process "like if Kafka had a Magic 8-Ball" that is biased against average users and is instead “elitist” status due to its narrow eligibility requirements.

I will verify you.

The current process for verification is like if Kafka had a Magic 8-Ball!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 22, 2022

After purchasing Twitter on October 27, Musk tweeted on Sunday that the social media company’s “whole verification process is being revamped right now.” 

The whole verification process is being revamped right now

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 30, 2022

Instead of the traditional model, the verification subscription model being proposed would establish clear criteria for obtaining a badge, while at the same time generating additional revenue for the social media platform. 

While the move has not yet been officially announced and is still in the works, the sources claim verified users would have 90 days to subscribe or lose their blue checkmark on their profile.