While Twitter’s historic certifications disappeared Thursday, some accounts continue to display blue badges on the social network. Twitter Bleu, the platform’s paid offering, is now the only way to earn the badge. But users benefit from the distinction without having contracted a subscription.
Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, is one of them. Thus, on the social network, his name is followed by the blue badge, but also by a small square with the image of Twitter. Actually, it is a new platform option that allows you to link a company account to certain users, authenticating them among your collaborators.
$50 per account
This option is the professional counterpart of Twitter Blue, which is aimed at individuals. Elon Musk’s goal is to make companies pay to keep his gold badge. These professional accounts then have the possibility to link your employee under your brand. As long as you pay.
In early February, consultant Matt Navarra put forward the price of $1,000. In the supporting email, he also stated that the membership badges would be billed at $50 each. In effect, this affiliate badge grants the same rights as the subscription to Twitter Blue.
Thus, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, benefits from a certification badge under his relationship with the online sales group. Former presidential couple Barack and Michelle Obama also display this privilege. This time, under an account created specifically for the occasion: the office of Barack and Michelle Obama. An account that identifies itself as a business, has a gold badge, is only followed by two people, and only follows two people.
Towards payment requests?
In France, several people use this process to maintain a certification badge. This is particularly the case for Kameto, the streamer who appeared alongside Squeezie in his last video, but above all the leader of the Karmine Corp esports structure, which guarantees him certification.
another internet personality Maxildan it also displays an affiliate badge. Presenter of the program Le Récap on The currentis attached to the business account of WebTV Webedia, whose broadcast will cease on May 31.
But this privilege may not last. Eliot Higgins, the founder of fact-checking NGO Bellingcat, claimed not to have subscribed to Twitter Blue.
Associated with the Bellingcat account, he inherited a blue plaque, but without paying, neither for himself nor for the NGO. The gold badge was awarded to him free of charge. But lucid about Twitter’s behavior, he expects to receive a payment request in the next few days.
Source: BFM TV
