Twitter has been testing a subscription service that will give users “access to exclusive features and perks that will take their experience on Twitter to the next level.” In a press release, the company said it is unveiling its “first iteration of Twitter Blue in Canada and Australia” on Thursday (June 3).
Twitter said it is looking “to gain a deeper understanding” of what users are seeking, and that it is responding to users’ recommendations and complaints.
The subscription fee is $3.49 in Canadian dollars, $4.49 on Australian dollars. Twitter will remain free for those who aren’t interested.
The subscription service will include Bookmark Folders to help users organize their saved content and to make it easier to manage their tweets. Also included is an Undo Tweet feature that will allow users to set a timer (for up to 30 seconds) to “undo” before a tweet or reply has posted. This will give people time to look over their comments before they are sent and correct any mistakes. Twitter said a Reader Mode feature will make it easier for users to “keep up with long threads on Twitter by turning them into easy-to-read text” that prioritizes the latest content.
Subscribers will also get dedicated customer support that is often not available for social media users, the release said. The package also includes app icons for home screens as well as color themes.
Twitter’s Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal said on May 25 that eCommerce is another avenue the company is eyeing for monetization. “You should be able to click and buy something on Twitter,” Segal said at the J.P. Morgan Technology, Media and Communications virtual conference. “We’ve come to appreciate that people do a lot of research on Twitter before they buy something.” Segal noted that people are using Twitter to gain information about merchandise, but that without a method of making an immediate purchase, potential sales could be lost.
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