Twitter Blue, the social media platform’s subscription service, which allows users to buy a blue verification badge for the first time, has gone live in the UK.
Twitter users on Apple’s iOS can now sign up and pay for the service, which will give them the blue-tick badge next to their profile name on the platform.
The company said the service would expand to Android and the web version of the app for users in due course, but Twitter's new owner Elon Musk continues to face criticism over the controversial change.
Here's everything you need to know about Twitter Blue.
What is Twitter Blue?
Twitter Blue is Mr Musk's solution to weeding out spam and fake accounts. He's argued it will have this effect because such accounts will not be willing to pay to get traction on the site.
Twitter Blue is also set to add a feature that will promote replies to tweets from verified accounts as a way of rooting out those not verified on the site, as part of a range of other perks labelled as “coming soon” to the subscription.
But critics have warned it will enable a new wave of misinformation as bad actors sign up for the badge and then pose as public figures to spread false information.
In the US, accounts pretending to be President Joe Biden and gaming giant Nintendo, sharing offensive material, have already been spotted.
Twitter has pledged to stamp out any fake or misleading use of the system and says it will not allow users to change their display name after receiving a badge.
