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☆ Pay $84 a year for Twitter Blue or lose your checkmark beginning April 1, Twitter says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“To keep your blue checkmark on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue,” the company’s tweet continued. Twitter Blue is a subscription service that Musk relaunched late last year that costs individuals $84 a year or $8 a month. Twitter Blue first launched in the pre-Musk days of 2021, as a subscription service offering “power features” like undoing a tweet and saving bookmarks to folders. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesMusk pulled the Twitter Blue program for a few weeks and relaunched it yet again in December, with additional steps for reviewing and approving subscribers. The company also says Twitter Blue users will see 50% fewer ads in their home timelines, and that their tweets will be prioritized among replies, mentions and searches.

☆ How to get a boost on Instagram? Post 6 stories a day and use its in-app tools, says an influencer who meets regularly with the company. Here's her other advice.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Nhari Djan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some of her tips include posting six Instagram stories a day and posting to the grid once a day. Instagram is pushing content made using its own in-app tools and features, according to a creator who got a rundown from the company. Marietta said the Instagram partner manager she spoke with explained that Instagram is working on its editing tools. Instagram also wants creators to use its other in-app features, including its trending audio instead of "outside music," per Marietta. While nine hashtags on a post used to be ideal, Instagram now suggests three to five hashtags, Marietta said.

☆ Twitter is removing a legacy blue tick program — which Elon Musk called 'deeply corrupted' — from April 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Users can now get blue checkmarks by signing up for the Twitter Blue subscription program. "On April 1st, we will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks," Twitter said Thursday. It further said users can keep their blue checkmarks by signing up for its paid Twitter Blue subscription program. But, Musk announced a revamp of the verification program mere days after his purchase of the platform and announced a new paid-for Twitter Blue program that comes with blue checkmarks. Twitter now gives blue check marks to Twitter Blue subscribers with a verified phone number.

☆ AOC criticizes Elon Musk for plans to remove Twitter's legacy blue checkmarks on April Fool's day
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Twitter's plans to scrap legacy blue checkmarks. Elon Musk's company announced it was revoking legacy verified checkmarks from April 1. Twitter announced on Thursday it plans to soon sunset a legacy verified feature that gave users blue checkmarks next to their name. The company said users can sign up to its Twitter Blue subscription program that costs $8 a month to keep their checkmarks. Both accounts paid for Twitter's verification feature, which gave them the blue tick, making them look like Eli Lilly's official account.

☆ An Instagram influencer shares her 4 key takeaways from private meetings with the company, including that using in-app tools will get you a boost over using others like ByteDance's CapCut
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Nhari Djan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some of her tips include posting six Instagram stories a day and posting to the grid once a day. Influencer Amy Marietta shared this in a TikTok post describing her takeaways from a meeting she had with Instagram earlier this week. (In her original TikTok, Marietta said the new guidance was once a day, but she corrected herself in a follow-up video.) Although Instagram typically pays creators more than TikTok, Marietta said creators may still choose to put their effort into other platforms. "I don't think people are going to stop spending as much time on TikTok and go focus on Instagram," Marietta said.

☆ Twitter revenue plunged in December as advertisers stayed away after Elon Musk's takeover, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter revenues fell about 40% in December versus the same month in 2021, per Wall Street Journal. The slide came after many advertisers slashed spending following Elon Musk's takeover last October. That came after half of Twitter's top 100 advertisers pulled out in the first month after Musk's controversial takeover, per Media Matters. Some big names including Apple and Amazon have returned to the platform, but they're again under threat due to Twitter's controversial cost-cutting strategies. Twitter Blue, introduced last November, allows users to pay between $8 and $11 a month for the blue checkmarks that were previously reserved for high-profile figures.

☆ Safe as houses: Twitter's new speech policy means you can't wish harm on infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter on Tuesday announced a new violent speech policy for users of the site to adhere to. This also includes threatening to damage civilian homes and shelters, or infrastructure that is essential to daily, civic, or business activities," Twitter's updated policy, announced Tuesday, reads. Representatives for Twitter did not immediately respond to Insider's detailed request for comment about the violent speech policy updates. The updated policy goes on to include, in another new addition to the rules: "You may not wish, hope, or express desire for harm. It is unclear what prompted the change in the violent speech policy.

☆ Twitter will reserve text-message authentication for Twitter Blue subscribers because it's being 'abused' by 'bad actors'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter said only Twitter Blue subscribers can use text messages to secure accounts from March 20. Text message two-factor authentication was being "abused" by "bad actors," the company said. A Twitter Blue subscription costs $11 a month on Android or iOS. It believed that text-based two-factor authentication was being "abused" by "bad actors," according to a blog post published Wednesday and shared in Twitter's latest announcement. Shortly after Elon Musk's takeover last October, it introduced Twitter Blue, which allows users to pay for the blue checkmarks previously reserved to high-profile figures.

☆ Elon Musk says bots making 'good content' will be exempt from Twitter's plan to charge for API access
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter plans to charge developers to access the API used to make third-party services and bots. Elon Musk has tweeted it would offer a free, write-only API for bots "providing good content." Saying he was "responding to feedback," Musk tweeted late Saturday: "Twitter will enable a light, write-only API for bots providing good content that is free." Musk said then that the free access had previously been "abused badly" by "bot scammers & opinion manipulators." "Just ~$100/month for API access with ID verification will clean things up greatly," he tweeted.

For users with a lot of followers, Twitter has been a place to network with professionals in their chosen field, build successful businesses and share breaking news. In October 2022 the account hit 550,000 Twitter followers, she said. Before Musk, Nelson said he communicated with Twitter staff, who engaged with the platform’s top creators to share new features and get insight. Prominent Twitter users said they have also noticed the quality of discourse on the platform declining, including more hateful messages being sent to them in direct messages and replies. It catalogs tweets from and about Musk, including reporting on the disruption to Twitter’s staff, previously suspended accounts that Musk restored and major moments on Musk’s Twitter.

☆ The Taliban bought Twitter's $8 a month blue ticks. They appear to have been removed after outrage.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Twitter accounts of at least two Taliban officials were sporting blue ticks on Monday, per the BBC. That sparked an outrage and by Tuesday, the ticks appear to have been removed. The BBC reported Monday that the Twitter accounts of at least two Taliban officials and four well-known supporters of the regime were sporting the checkmarks. It's unclear if Twitter removed the blue badges from the Taliban-linked accounts, or if the account owners unsubscribed from the Twitter Blue service. Twitter Blue is a paid subscription service that charges users for a blue checkmark next to their account names and offers early access to certain features.

☆ A columnist easily tricked Elon Musk's new Twitter verification system by posing as a US senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Posing as US Senator Ed Markey, he paid $8 for a Twitter Blue account. Instead, he wanted users to be able to pay for verification through Twitter Blue. At that time, Fowler created his first fake verified Markey account, saying it took mere "minutes." In November, Twitter put Twitter Blue on hold, with Musk saying the platform needed more time to safeguard against impersonation with "high confidence." To help ensure the credibility of paid users, Twitter now asks them to connect a phone number to their accounts, among other requirements.

☆ Twitter Blue is set to relaunch Monday at $3 more for iPhone app users after Elon Musk complained about Apple's App Store fee
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The relaunch of Twitter Blue was suspended in November after a wave of impersonations. It was suspended again as Elon Musk tried to avoid the Apple App Store's 30% fee. The latest version of Twitter Blue, which allowed users to pay for a blue-check verification, was initially launched in November shortly after Elon Musk's takeover. Twitter said the new Twitter Blue would include the ability to edit tweets and upload 1080p video, as well as a color-coded checkmark system: blue for paid users, gold for businesses, and grey for "government and multilateral accounts." Twitter Blue subscribers will also be able to edit their display name or profile photo, but will temporarily lose the blue check until their account can be reviewed, the company said.

☆ Elon Musk plans to charge iPhone app users $4 more for Twitter Blue, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk plans to raise the Twitter Blue price for those paying on iPhones, per The Information. It said Twitter may charge $11 a month for Blue via the iPhone app, but only $7 via its website. The move is likely a reaction to Apple's App Store fees that Musk has criticized, per the report. Musk recently rebuked Apple's App Store policies and accused the tech giant of opposing free speech and monopolizing the market. Platformer reported the launch was pushed back as Twitter was trying to dodge the App Store charges.

☆ Netflix co-CEO calls Elon Musk the 'bravest, most creative person on the planet,' says people should 'give the guy a break'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings called Elon Musk "the bravest, most creative person on the planet." He added that their styles are different, but that Musk is "trying to help the world" by buying Twitter. Hastings said he is "100% convinced that he is trying to help the world in all of his endeavors," including buying Twitter. Musk has caused a stir with his changes since buying Twitter. Musk, who styles himself as a "free speech absolutist," has called the new blue-check system "the great leveler."

☆ Elon Musk has delayed Twitter's launch of its verified subscription service again as it tries to bypass Apple's 30% App Store fees, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk has once again postponed the launch of Twitter Blue, Platformer reported. Platformer reported the news on Tuesday. Although Musk said last week he planned to tentatively launch Twitter Blue on Friday, Platformer reported Twitter was prepared to go ahead as soon as Tuesday. "Product requirement updates: Will delay launch of Twitter Blue to make some tweaks," a Twitter product manager posted on Slack on Tuesday, Platformer reported. Twitter wasn't intending to offer Blue as an in-app purchase, Platformer reported, meaning the company would avoid Apple's 30% App Store charge when the service relaunches.

☆ Twitter stops policing Covid-19 misinformation under CEO Elon Musk and reportedly restores 62,000 suspended accounts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's Twitter account displayed on a mobile with Elon Musk in the background are seen in this illustration. Twitter CEO Elon Musk has been a vocal critic of how health officials reacted to the coronavirus pandemic. Musk has committed to free speech on Twitter, which might partially explain why the change was enacted. The change comes as technology newsletter Platformer says employees are scrambling to restore more than 62,000 suspended accounts. That figure could include some of the more than 11,000 accounts that were suspended for violating the company's Covid-19 misinformation rules.

☆ A look back at Elon Musk's chaotic first month at Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Sunday officially marks one month since the world’s richest man took the helm at Twitter. After spending months embroiled in an unsuccessful legal battle to get out of his initial proposal to buy Twitter, Musk made his first splashy entrance into the company’s offices on Oct. 26, carrying a sink. (In a video of the incident shared on Twitter, he wrote: “Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!) In another dramatic move by the new boss, Musk publicly fired a software engineer who had survived the initial round of cuts, but who then questioned Musk on Twitter. Musk goes onto to grant ‘amnesty’ to most previously banned accountsAfter conducting yet another Twitter poll, Musk said on Nov. 24 that he will begin restoring most previously banned accounts on Twitter starting next week.

☆ Elon Musk says Twitter users will be able have a 'secondary tiny logo' showing they belong to a verified organization, amid tentative plans to launch Twitter Blue next week
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk said Twitter users can have a secondary tiny logo to show they belong to a verified organization. The announcement came after he said the company may unveil Twitter Blue, its new verified service, with different color checkmarks at the end of next week. "Individuals can have secondary tiny logo showing they belong to an org if verified as such by that org," he said, adding that he'd provide a longer explanation about the plans next week. In a separate tweet, he apologized for delaying the launch of Twitter Blue, which will charge users $8 a month. Shortly after, Twitter announced it would display blue and gray checkmarks to distinguish paid Twitter Blue checks from "official" verified accounts.

☆ Elon Musk says Twitter Blue relaunch delayed, may use different color checks for organizations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Todd Haselton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter owner Elon Musk said on Monday evening that the company is planning to delay the relaunch of its $8 per month Blue Verified service. Musk said Twitter will "probably use different color check for organizations than individuals." It allowed users to pay for a Blue checkmark, previously reserved for verified users. Musk had earlier said he planned to relaunch Twitter Blue on Nov. 29. The paid Blue subscription service led to a plethora of pranksters creating imposter accounts on Twitter.

Hive Social is a mobile-only social media app that's become a popular Twitter alternative. Like Twitter, Hive Social lets you post messages, videos, polls, and more to a chronological feed of followers. Hive Social is a mobile-only platform that's trying to recreate Twitter without any of the algorithms. The biggest difference between the two is that Hive Social claims to have no algorithms deciding which posts you see. Hive Social; William Antonelli/InsiderYou've now got free reign to use Hive Social however you like.

CNN —Former US President Donald Trump’s Twitter account has been reinstated on the platform. The account, which Twitter banned following the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, was restored after Twitter CEO and new owner Elon Musk posted a poll on Twitter on Friday night asking the platform’s users if Trump should be reinstated. Asked on Saturday what he thought of Musk purchasing Twitter and his own future on the platform, Trump praised Musk but questioned whether the site would survive its current crises. It may make it, it may not make it.”Still, Trump said he liked Musk and “liked that he bought (Twitter. Soon after Trump’s Twitter ban, he was also restricted from Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, which could also restore his accounts as soon as January 2023.

That plan quickly falls through — and Twitter decides to adopt a poison-pill strategy to fend off a hostile takeover from Musk. At this point, shares in Musk's automotive company, Tesla, began to decline; by mid-November, they will have lost close to half their value. “Musk’s conduct simply confirms that he wants to escape the binding contract he freely signed, and to damage Twitter in the process,” Twitter says. In the meantime, Musk and Twitter jockey for position ahead of the October trial — with Judge Kathaleen McCormick increasingly siding with Twitter in key pre-trial motions. Within 48 hours, the site was flooded with users who bought blue checkmarks only to turn around and impersonate official accounts, including Musk's.

☆ Elon Musk demands Twitter staff commit to 'long hours' or leave
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

This week, he also fired veteran engineers at Twitter after they criticized him in public, or in the company’s internal Slack channels. Since Musk took over on Oct. 28, he has announced sweeping changes planned for Twitter. One change that he insisted the company roll out quickly, called Twitter Blue verification, had to be rescinded, however. Musk now plans a revised Twitter Blue Verified release on Nov. 29th. Here’s the full email that Elon Musk sent to Twitter employees on Wednesday (transcribed by CNBC):

☆ Elon Musk demands Twitter staff commit to 'long hours' or leave: Read the email
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Twitter profile page belonging to Elon Musk is seen on an Apple iPhone mobile phone. This week, he also fired veteran engineers at Twitter after they criticized him in public, or in the company's internal Slack channels. One change that he insisted the company roll out quickly, called Twitter Blue verification, had to be rescinded, however. Musk now plans a revised Twitter Blue Verified release on Nov. 29th. Here's the full email that Elon Musk sent to Twitter employees on Wednesday (transcribed by CNBC):From: Elon MuskTo: Team [at Twitter]Subj.

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