X Premium (Twitter Blue)
Twitter/X subscription. Pre-Musk (2021) Twitter Blue was $3 for bookmark folders + cosmetics. Musk era (2022+) made it $8 for blue checkmark, algorithm boost, longer posts. Renamed to X Premium.
Before Musk: blue check = verified identity (notable people only). After: blue check = paying $8. Resulted in impersonation disasters ("Eli Lilly insulin free" stock crash 2022). Algorithmically: Premium posts are pushed higher in replies + For You. Premium+ ($16) for no ads + longer videos. Adoption: ~1.5M Premium subs 2024 (vs 600M Twitter MAU) — below expectations economically. Symbolism: blue check has gone from status to stigma in tech Twitter.