Social media giant Twitter has re-launched its paid for ‘Blue Tick’ service after it was taken down – but some people will have to pay more for it.

The price will continue to be at $8 (£6.50) per month for most, but Apple users will have to pay $11 to gain access to subscriber-only features.

Users willing to pay the $8 on the web or $11 a month via Apple’s app store will get more prominence than a regular user, meaning it is likely to be adopted by celebrities and businesses.

Twitter said: “We’re relaunching @TwitterBlue on Monday – subscribe on web for $8/month or on iOS for $11/month to get access to subscriber-only features, including the blue checkmark.”

Twitter gave no explanation for why Apple users were being charged more than others, but Musk has openly said on his account that he resents the commission fee Apple charges on in-app purchases. However, a meeting with Apple chief executive, Tim Cook, appears to resolve this issue.

The relaunch comes weeks after a troubled revamp of the service by the Elon Musk-owned company last month, which resulted in hundreds of impersonator accounts appearing on the platform.

Blue Tick options allowed some users to take advantage of the chance to launch bogus “verified” accounts for major companies and public figures, including many pretending to be Elon Musk himself. One user claiming to be the US pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly tweeted “insulin is free”, causing the real firm’s share price to tumble.

we’re relaunching @TwitterBlue on Monday – subscribe on web for $8/month or on iOS for $11/month to get access to subscriber-only features, including the blue checkmark 🧵 pic.twitter.com/DvvsLoSO50

— Twitter (@Twitter) December 10, 2022

The Blue Tick services is currently only available “on iOS only in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, with plans to expand,” according to a Twitter post. The firm said it hoped that giving priority to subscribers would help combat “scams and spam”.

As part of the paid-for Blue Tick services, subscribers will also gain the ability to edit tweets – a feature that millions have been asking for.

Twitter woes continue

The social media giant has gone through a tumultuous period since billionaire Elon Musk completed his $44bn (£38bn) takeover in October.

His first major move, days after buying the company, was to fire the company’s top executives – including CEO Parag Agrawal – bringing a bitter end to a highly contested leadership battle.

Musk Tweeted “the bird is free” in reference to the deal being completed, as well as updating his bio to “Chief Twit”.

Since then, Musk has gone on a spree of major decision, including firing around half of the Twitter workforce, closing offices without notice, and last week announcing beds would be installed in offices for staff to stay beyond their working hours.

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In November, news broke that a message was sent out to workers informing them that offices would be closed, and would re-open Monday 21st November, but did not provide a reason for the move.

The message added: “Please continue to comply with company policy by refraining from discussing confidential company information on social media, with the press or elsewhere.”

Additionally, thousands of staff at the social media company announced they were leaving after being told they must work “long hours at high intensity” or leave the company.

Workers were told they had until Thursday the 17th of November to comply and sign up, and those that failed would be given three months’ severance pay.

Over the weekend (December 9th) the company announced the rollout of new controls this week which would allow firms to prevent their ads from appearing above or below tweets containing certain keywords.

The company said that the controls are part of its effort to reassure and re-engage with advertisers that have pulled ads off the platform since it was purchased by Musk.

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