Twitter Blue checkmark subscription set at $8, aimed at inclusivity? Vitalik comments: Musk, you should do it this way.

After the acquisition of the favorite social platform of the cryptocurrency community, Twitter, the new owner, Tesla's founder Elon Musk, announced, "Will charge $8 per month for verified accounts." Many celebrities have since expressed their opposition, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who also shared his thoughts on the matter.

Musk Sets Monthly Fee at $8: Key to Fighting Fake Accounts

Musk stated on 11/2: "The system on Twitter that divides people into landlords and peasants based on the presence or absence of a blue checkmark is unreasonable. Everyone has the right! Blue checkmark monthly fee of $8!" He also added that prices will be adjusted based on the purchasing power of different countries.

Moreover, there are more features:

• Priority for replies, mentions, and searches. He believes this is an important method to combat spam and fraudulent accounts.
• Ability to post long videos and audio clips.
• Halving the number of ads.

Musk also plans to offer a paywall for content creators, while bringing profits to Twitter.

"There will also be a second label to mark public figures, such as politicians." Although everyone can have a verified blue checkmark, public figures will still have a distinctive label.

Vitalik: Strengthen Identity Verification for Possibility

Musk's idea of a $8 monthly fee to combat fake accounts has been criticized by many, who feel it is of no help. Crypto celebrity @zachxbt believes Musk underestimates the willingness of fake accounts to pay. There have been cases of accounts selling for $300,000.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, on the other hand, believes that Musk's method relies on sufficient identity verification to confirm that the applied identity matches. If anyone can claim to be anyone by just paying $8 monthly, it would completely undermine the purpose of the blue checkmark against fraud.

He also believes that a one-time identity verification fee would be better than a monthly fee, as if an account verification is abused in the future, one would have to pay again for verification.

Current Situation: Both Sides Have Opinions

Among Twitter users who do not have a verified account, some believe they simply want to use a free account. Does not having a blue checkmark mean they are considered bot accounts? Renowned researcher Lex Fridman suggests that Musk would need an advanced bot to determine which non-blue checkmark users are real.

On the other hand, a prominent doctor with a blue checkmark expressed anger, as this allows even some unethical doctors to obtain blue checkmarks and provide incorrect medical information to the public, diminishing the credibility of the blue checkmark.

Possible Model: Indirect Subscription System?

Musk emphasizes "universal blue checkmarks," where everyone can pay to become a verified account. However, for public figures, the system will still provide additional labeling. This could bring direct profit growth to Twitter.

In order to avoid being seen as fake accounts and reduce ads, people may pay to verify their accounts, turning Twitter into a subscription service platform. However, the original blue checkmarks obtained by public figures would transition into a secondary label, highlighting their social status. Will there be accounts marked as public figures by the system without subscribing to the verified account service?