Twitter is rumored to be planning the launch of gold checkmark verification, which will cost as much as $1,000 a month. Since the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk, much has changed on the social media platform. Musk's changes to the platform have included efforts to further monetize Twitter through subscriptions. The blue checkmark subscription was just the start of Musk's plans, however, and now he's ready to launch the next step of Twitter's subscription efforts.
In November 2022 Elon Musk revealed his plans for Twitter's new verification system, which he planned to launch immediately. A November 25 tweet from Musk explained that he planned a gold checkmark for companies, a grey checkmark for government, and a blue checkmark for all individuals regardless of whether they're a celebrity. The launch didn't go as planned, however, and plans have since changed. The gold checkmark could be coming back, but not in the way Musk initially described it.
Supposed leaked emails from Twitter indicate that the social media company is contacting organizations to see if they're interested in purchasing a golden verification checkmark. Twitter's emails reportedly say it's "opening the gates" for its Verified Organizations early access program. Entering the program costs $1,000 per month, plus an additional $50 to include affiliation badges for associated Twitter handles. Twitter does offer one free month of free affiliations, however.
Many Twitter companies already have gold checkmarks on Twitter, including Electronic Arts, Activision, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and many more just in the video game industry. However, this is likely due to Twitter's legacy policy of enabling gold checkmarks for corporate Twitter accounts by default. It's unclear which, if any, of these accounts have signed onto Twitter's $1,000 early access program, or if they will eventually.
The $1,000-per-month gold checkmark verification system will join Twitter's currently enabled $7.99 blue checkmark system. All users are currently able to subscribe to Twitter and receive a blue checkmark on their account. It isn't clear if all organizations will be allowed to get a gold checkmark, or if Twitter will decide on a case-by-case basis.
Twitter's biggest issue remains the controversial decisions that Elon Musk made once taking over the platform in 2022, allowing many controversial figures back onto the platform and rolling back rules against hate speech. Yet while advertising on Twitter has fallen dramatically, few organizations have outright left the social media platform. Whether $1,000 a month to retain a golden checkmark is too much for these organizations is what Twitter is testing next.