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Twitter has confirmed plans to allow users to buy blue-tick verified status.<\/p>\n
In an update for Apple devices, the company said the feature would be open to users in certain countries who sign up for its Twitter Blue service for $7.99 (\u00a37) per month.<\/p>\n
The policy change is controversial, amid concerns that the platform could be swamped with fake accounts.<\/p>\n
It follows Twitter\u2019s takeover by Elon Musk, who on Friday laid off around half of the company\u2019s workforce.<\/p>\n
The sought-after blue tick was previously only available to high-profile or influential individuals and organisations \u2013 who were asked to prove their identity.<\/p>\n
It has been used as a sign that a profile is authentic, and is a key tool to help users identify reliable information on the platform.<\/p>\n
The policy change may fuel worries that government figures, celebrities, journalists and brands could be impersonated by any user willing to pay a monthly fee.<\/p>\n
Mr Musk, the world\u2019s richest person, appears to be looking to diversify Twitter\u2019s income, following his acquisition of the firm late last month in a $44bn (\u00a339bn) deal.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the billionaire said Twitter was losing more than $4m (\u00a33.5m) per day,\u00a0insisting that this gave him \u201cno choice\u201d over culling around half the company\u2019s 7,500-strong workforce.<\/p>\n
The cuts \u2013 as well as Mr Musk\u2019s fierce advocacy of free speech \u2013 have caused speculation that Twitter could water down its efforts on content moderation.<\/p>\n
However, Mr Musk has insisted that the firm\u2019s stance towards harmful material remains \u201cabsolutely unchanged\u201d.<\/p>\n
On Saturday a top United Nations official, Human Rights Commissioner Volker T\u00fcrk, urged Mr Musk to \u201censure that human rights are central to the management of Twitter\u201d.<\/p>\n
The unusual UN intervention pointed to the sacking of Twitter\u2019s whole human rights team, saying this was \u201cnot an encouraging start\u201d under Mr Musk\u2019s ownership.<\/p>\n
There was no immediate response from Twitter.<\/p>\n
Few details were publicised relating to the change in verification policy, and a Twitter Blue subscription reportedly remained at its old price of \u00a34.99 in the UK following Saturday\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n
Twitter\u2019s update said the changes would apply only in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand at first.<\/p>\n
A flurry of tweets from Mr Musk himself suggested the changes would be rolled out worldwide after they were observed in the initial handful of countries.<\/p>\n
It was not clear what would happen to those profiles which already had a blue tick \u2013 or if Twitter still planned to \u201cverify\u201d a user other than by charging them a subscription.<\/p>\n
Responding to one user who asked what would happen to existing verified profiles, Mr Musk said the timeline for changes to be implemented was a \u201ccouple [of] months\u201d.<\/p>\n
Answering another question about the risk of users pretending to be notable figures, he said Twitter would \u201csuspend the account attempting impersonation and keep the money\u201d.<\/p>\n
Previewing other upcoming changes, Mr Musk said Twitter would soon allow users to attach long-form text to tweets, \u201cending [the] absurdity of notepad screenshots\u201d.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Saturday,\u00a0Twitter co-founder and ex-CEO Jack Dorsey addressed the mass sackings, saying sorry to employees for what had unfolded at his former firm.<\/p>\n
Mr Dorsey \u2013 who quit as CEO in November and left the board of directors in May \u2013 said he was aware Twitter staff were \u201cangry with me\u201d.<\/p>\n
His statement continued: \u201cI own the responsibility for why everyone is in this situation: I grew the company size too quickly. I apologise for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Dorsey appeared to endorse the need for dismissals. Earlier this year, he expressed support for Mr Musk\u2019s takeover.<\/p>\n
A host of major brands have halted advertising spending with Twitter in recent days amid the company\u2019s upheaval.<\/p>\n
Mr Musk has been looking to decrease the platform\u2019s reliance on adverts \u2013 and Saturday\u2019s update also promised \u201chalf the ads\u201d.<\/p>\n
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