As you may remember, because this happened just yesterday, we found out Elon Musk planned to raise the price of Twitter Blue, the premium version of the social network, and that it is also going to link it with its verified program. A decision that was already controversial by itselfand this provoked even angrier reactions when he learned that his plans were to raise the price of the Blue up to twenty dollars a month.

Let’s remember that as of today, the subscription price is $4.99, but that this has only been the case since the summer, when a substantial price increase was applied, no less than 67%, from the then $2.99 ​​per month. To give you an idea, and if the price hike to $19.99/month is eventually confirmed, we’d be talking about a 301% increase from its current price, which will increase to an unimaginable 569% if we compare this new price to the $2.99 ​​that Twitter Blue debuted at.

What’s outrageous in itself was made even more surprising when it was revealed this morning that Twitter Blue had removed one of its most interesting features without warning, a selection of 300 US media outlets that Twitter Blue subscribers could read ad-free. The decision was communicated to these cooperating media outlets yesterday and users found out today that the change had already been made. Raising prices and eliminating benefits… that doesn’t sound like a well-studied business plantruth.

Twitter’s current Lords and Peasants system of who has or doesn’t have a blue tick is bullshit.

Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022

At least it looks like someone decided to do the numbers and how we can read a tweet from Musk himselfFinally the price of Twitter Blue will rise, but only to eight dollars a month, very far from the wildness anticipated by the project of raising it to twenty dollars. He also took the opportunity to say, as you can read in the text and I quote verbatim: «Twitter’s current lords and peasants system of recognizing who has or doesn’t have a blue tick is bullshit”, which, along with the price, ends with the emphatic statement “Power to the people!” For people who can (and want to) pay $96 a year, of course.

Therefore, an increase in two sections (July and the current one) is assumed. a total increase of 168% in four months (assuming the new price takes effect no later than November 30th), which is also quite high, but of course remains a much more reasonable option, at 569%, which would be $20 per month to continue with the price.

Now, of course, there are two doubts about Twitter Blue, and those have been confirmed. The first is if there is a jump from the subscription modality to other countries soonWell, let’s recall that since its launch, it is only available in Australia, Canada, United States and New Zealand until now. If the verifications are eventually linked to the subscription and this movement is made on a global scale without expanding the coverage of the service, there are many accounts that, even if they are willing to pay for it, will be left without this option.

And then again, while Twitter Blue will finally be available worldwide, too It will be necessary to check whether the current verified holders are willing to go through the mailbox every month to keep it. It is not known about the price of $8 per month, but with the prospect of 20, Stephen King has already made it clear on his Twitter account:

$20 a month to keep my blue check? Damn, they should pay me. If this is implemented I will be gone like Enron.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) 31 October 2022