Twitter is launching new features you’ll have to pay for - here’s what to expect

Twitter is launching new features you’ll have to pay for - here’s what to expect  (Photo: Shutterstock)Twitter is launching new features you’ll have to pay for - here’s what to expect  (Photo: Shutterstock)
Twitter is launching new features you’ll have to pay for - here’s what to expect (Photo: Shutterstock)

Social networking website Twitter will soon introduce a feature allowing users to charge people for their content.

Twitter accounts will be able to create exclusive content which will only be available to those who ‘Super Follow’ and pay to access it.

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The feature is anticipated to go live later this year, with account holders expected to charge for additional content such as videos, newsletters, photos and discounts.

‘We’re not trusted’

Speaking at an investor presentation this week, Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey explained the decision by addressing “why folks don’t believe in [Twitter].”

He said: “It comes down to three critiques: we’re slow, we’re not innovative, and we’re not trusted.”

The new Super Follow feature is thought to be a reaction to the growing popularity of subscription-based content services, such as Patreon, OnlyFans and Substack.

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The sites allow users to create different tiers of content, which people can access either for free or based on their subscription level.

Twitter is also understood to be increasingly interested in shifting its business model away from advertising, as this sector is increasingly dominated by Google and Facebook.

In a statement, Twitter said: “Exploring audience funding opportunities like Super Follows will allow creators and publishers to be directly supported by their audience and will incentivize them to continue creating content that their audience loves. “

Will there be other new features?

But Super Follow is not the only new feature that the social networking site is hoping to introduce in the near future, as it said it will have “more to share” soon.

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Expected features include ‘Revue’ which will allow users to publish a newsletter on a free or paid basis to their audience. The feature is a clear pitch at users of the Substack service, a popular subscription newsletter platform.

‘Twitter Spaces’ - a feature which is currently in the private beta testing stages - will allow users to speak to each other using audio chat rooms on the site, closely resembling the up and coming social media platform, Clubhouse.

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