The verification tick has been the most talked-about perk of the new Twitter Blue. However, the service also unlocks plenty of other features on the social media platform. As Elon Musk has often said, Twitter plans to expand into a video content platform and will introduce new ways to appeal to creators. With a Blue subscription, anyone can now upload 1080p videos up to 60 minutes long. The maximum file size can be 2GB, four times more than the previous limit of 512MB. However, that size limit still applies if you’re uploading from Twitter’s mobile apps for iOS or Android. Another feature that Musk has mentioned multiple times in recent weeks is priority replies. If you’re a Blue subscriber, Twitter will prioritize your replies on tweets. That should mean your replies will surface above those without a paid subscription. Of course, if multiple Blue users have replied, the platform will have to arrange those replies in some way. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t share details about how it will work. It also doesn’t talk about priority in search or mentions, something the Twitter CEO suggested recently. Maybe it’s still in the works.
The Twitter Blue verification badge will not be available immediately
Twitter had to suspend Blue last month because it immediately offered the verification checkmark to subscribers. People exploited this policy to create fake accounts of prominent public personalities or brands and mislead or trick unsuspecting users. The company is now requiring Blue subscribers to verify their identity using a phone number (may not accept a Google Voice number). The account also needs to meet a few other eligibility criteria outlined here. Moreover, the checkmark is temporarily disabled if subscribers change their handle, display name, or profile photo. Twitter Blue is currently available in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Users can subscribe either on the web or through the iOS app, with support for subscriptions on Android coming soon. However, since Apple and Google take a cut from in-app purchases, you’ll have to bear that extra cost if you subscribe through mobile apps. You can check the pricing details in each country on Twitter’s support page. Note that new Twitter users can’t get a Blue subscription for 90 days. The company says it will share more information about Blue in the coming months as it keeps improving the service.
