At tweets posted on Saturday, the mercurial billionaire wrote, “Ads are too frequent on Twitter and too big. Take steps to address both in the coming weeks. Also, there will be a higher subscription that allows zero ads.
The user responded that using Instagram is a “complete garbage experience” because it shows “ads every 3 pictures,” adding, “If you make ads less intrusive here and offer features that appeal to the visual community, there are millions of users out there who are ready . to migrate.”
Musk replied “That’s the plan!”
Currently the company is selling Twitter Blue’s premium offering for $11 per month when users sign up through the iOS or Android app. Otherwise, it’s $8 per month, because commissions for in-app purchases don’t apply.
Less or no ads on Twitter?
Seeing fewer ads, rather than none at all, has been Twitter Blue’s selling point. Another is the ability to get a blue check mark, which before Musk took over showed Twitter had verified the identity of famous users.
In November, Musk’s company paused Twitter Blue after verified trolls used it to impersonate celebrities and brands like Eli Lilly. The latter appeared to announce, “We’re happy to announce free insulin today,” forcing the drugmaker to issue an awkward apology for what it never said.
It’s not just a misstep since Musk also passed on Twitter for $44 billion at the end of October. Last month, he admitted in a Spaces Twitter chat that suspending the account of respected venture capitalist Paul Graham had been a “mistake.” Graham has violated a short-term policy that prohibits linking to competing social networks.
Exodus of advertisers
Another misstep may have alienated advertisers, who left after the takeover, worried Musk, a self-described “free speech absolutist,” would ease content moderation. Last month, Musk claimed the advertisers were returning.
But revenue at Twitter, which relies heavily on advertising, fell 35% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, according to a report this week by The Information, and similar results could be saved for this quarter.
In another change this week, Twitter quietly updated its developer agreement to make it clear that it has excluded the makers of apps like Tweetbot and Twitterific, as reported by Engadget. This happened after the service was suddenly cut off without warning.
Twitterrific’s Sean Heber wrote in a blog post on Thursday: “We apologize for the app’s sudden and untimely shutdown due to Twitter’s growing number of unannounced and undocumented policy changes.”
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