Twitter verification has become an increasingly sought-after status symbol for individuals, companies, and state agencies in Kenya.
The checkmark next to a Twitter handle signifies that the account has been verified by the platform and is deemed authentic and trustworthy.
However, obtaining this coveted status comes at a cost, and the price tag varies depending on the type of account being verified.
In this article, we will explore the different costs associated with Twitter verification for individuals, companies, and state agencies in Kenya.
We will also look at the benefits and drawbacks of seeking verification on the popular social media platform.
What is Twitter Blue?
Twitter Blue is an opt-in, paid subscription that adds a blue checkmark to your account and offers early access to select features, like Edit Tweet.
In addition to the blue checkmark, Twitter Blue features offer subscribers a way to enhance and customize their Twitter experience.
These powerful controls are designed to help personalize Twitter, and give early access to newest features before they’re available to everyone.
Twitter Blue availability
New subscriptions to Twitter Blue are available globally on web, iOS, or Android. Not all features are available on all platforms.
Newly created Twitter accounts will not be able to subscribe to Twitter Blue for 30 days.
Twitter may also impose waiting periods for new accounts in the future at our discretion, and without notice.
Twitter reserves the right without notice to remove your blue checkmark at any time in its sole discretion without offering you a refund, including if you violate our Terms of Service or if your account is suspended.
Twitter Blue requirements
Only Twitter accounts created more than 30 days ago can sign up for Twitter Blue. All Twitter Blue subscribers will be required to confirm their phone number as part of sign up.
Once subscribed to Twitter Blue, changes to your profile photo, display name, or username will result in the loss of the blue checkmark until the account is validated.
Twitter Blue cost for companies and state agencies in Kenya
Twitter will phase out the legacy blue badge and strip verified accounts of their verification marks starting April 1. As such, the symbol of authenticity will be available for purchase for all Twitter users.
Twitter has set a Ksh 132,520 ($1,000) fee a month for Kenyan firms, ministries and other government agencies that would want a gold check mark verifying their account.
It has also set Ksh 6,626 ($50) monthly for affiliated accounts including CEOs, directors, staff and subsidiaries.
Organizations that purchase the subscription will receive a gold checkmark and square avatar if they are a business or non-profit.
At the same time, organizations will have a grey checkmark and circular avatar if they are a governmental or multilateral organisation.
An affiliated account receives verification denoted by either a blue, gold, or grey checkmark as well as an affiliate badge, a small image of their parent company’s profile picture, displayed next to their checkmark.
| Category | Amount in KES | Amount in USD |
| Companies, Government ministries and State Agencies | Ksh 132,520 | $1,000 |
| Affilliated accounts for the above cateories eg CEOs, subsidiaries, staff and directors | Ksh 6,626 | $50 |
Some of the Kenyan organisations that have since paid the fees include Statehouse, KCB Group, National Bank, I&M Bank Group and Equity Bank.
Others are Co-operative Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Absa Bank, NCBA Bank, Stanbic Bank, Safaricom and Kenya Airways.
Twitter Blue cost for individuals in Kenya
The firm has also made changes to individual account verification. Users will pay a monthly fee of Ksh 1,457 ($8) to obtain a blue badge.
Verified accounts show users on the social media platform that the profile is credible and authentic.
The premium subscription plan offers Twitter users several exclusive features, including the following.
- A verified blue checkmark.
- The ability to post longer Tweets and longer videos.
- The chance to undo a Tweet before it’s sent.
- The chance to edit some Tweets within the first 30 minutes.
- A feed of Top Articles shared by those you follow and the people they follow.
- Account security with two-factor authentication via SMS or authentication apps.
- Increased visibility when you reply to other users’ Tweets.
Twitter Blue features
Twitter Blue includes a number of features to improve your experience on Twitter including:
1. Edit Tweet
This highly requested feature gives you a 30 minute window to make a limited number of changes to published Tweets.
Use it to make updates, tag someone, or reorder the media you attached. Edit Tweet currently only applies to original Tweets and quote Tweets.
2. Bookmark Folders
Bookmark Folders let Twitter Blue subscribers group and organize Bookmarked Tweets into folders for faster discovery later.
Twitter Blue allows you an unlimited number of bookmarks and Bookmark Folders which are always private.
3. Custom app icons
With Custom App icons, you can change how your Twitter App icon displays on your phone. Choose from several colorful options.
Check your settings regularly for new featured looks available for a limited time.
4. NFT Profile Pictures
We’re adding NFTs as one of several ways to customize your Twitter profile so you can show off the NFTs you own in a hex-shaped profile picture on your Twitter account.
After a temporary connection to your crypto wallet that allows you to set up an NFT as your profile picture, your digital asset displays in a special hexagon shape that identifies you as the owner of that NFT.
5. Themes
Twitter Blue Themes let you choose from colorful options for your app theme.
6. Custom navigation
This feature lets you choose what appears in your navigation bar, so you get quick access to the content and Twitter destinations you care about most.
You can select at least 2 and up to 6 items to keep in your bottom navigation bar or restore to default if you change your mind.
7. Spaces Tab
The new Spaces Tab is a place to find podcasts, themed audio stations, recorded Spaces, and live Spaces.
This feature test requires in-app language settings to display in English.
It’s currently only available to Twitter Blue subscribers on iOS and Android devices, and a select number of people globally.
8. Top Articles
Top Articles is a shortcut to the most-shared articles in your network.
This feature automatically lists the most-shared articles from people you follow and people they follow, too so you can easily find the type of content you want to read.
9. Reader
Turn long threads into a more beautiful reading experience.
We’ve designed Reader to let you enjoy your threads with less noise.
Turn the Reader feature on when you tap the reader icon at the top of the thread, or use it to change your text size.
10. Undo Tweet
Undo Tweet gives you the option to retract a Tweet after you send it, but before it’s visible to others on Twitter.
It’s not an edit button, but a chance to preview and revise your Tweet before it’s posted for the world to see.
Once the Undo period is over, the Tweet is viewable to your followers and you can either leave it or delete it, like you normally would on Twitter.
11. Prioritized rankings in conversations
This feature prioritizes your replies on Tweets that you interact with.
12. Longer video upload
Share more content with your followers.
Twitter Blue subscribers can upload videos up to ~60 minutes long up to 2GB file size (1080p) (web only).
13. Longer Tweets
Want to Tweet more than 280 characters? Longer Tweets allow Blue subscribers to Tweet up to 4,000 characters.
You can also compose longer Tweets in a Quote Tweet or reply.
Standard functionality like posting media, creating polls, and using hashtags still apply.
Everyone will be able to read longer Tweets, but only Blue subscribers can create them.
14. SMS two-factor authentication
As a Twitter Blue subscriber, you can add another layer of protection to your account with access to two-factor authentication via SMS.
Please note that availability of text message two-factor authentication for Twitter Blue may vary by country and carrier.
Twitter Blue FAQs
1. What is Twitter Blue?
Twitter Blue is an opt-in, paid monthly subscription that adds a blue checkmark to your account and offers early access to select new features, like Edit Tweet.
If I subscribe to Twitter Blue now, what is different for me?
For now, you will have all the same features as new Twitter Blue verified accounts, except that you will not get a blue checkmark nor will your Tweets be prioritized in the verified section of the Notifications timeline.
2. Where do I sign up for Twitter Blue?
To subscribe on web, go to twitter.com and select More > Twitter Blue > Subscribe. If you haven’t already, you’ll be prompted to verify your phone number. Confirm subscription payment.
To subscribe on iOS or Android, go to the profile menu > Twitter Blue > Subscribe. If you haven’t already, you’ll be prompted to verify your phone number. Follow the in-app purchase instructions to complete your subscription.
3. How much does the new Twitter Blue cost?
Twitter Blue subscriptions are paid on a monthly or annual basis on web, iOS, or Android with localized pricing starting at $8/month or $84/year in available countries.
If Twitter Blue is available for purchase for you, you’ll find the regional currency price information on web and in-app on iOS and Android.
What kinds of features are included in the new Twitter Blue?
An active Twitter Blue subscription adds a blue checkmark to your account and offers early access to select new features.
The features included in Twitter Blue are subject to change at any time as we continue to improve the service.
How does prioritized ranking work?
People on Twitter will see a slight preference for replies from Blue verified accounts over other replies.
We’re currently testing the levels at which we prioritize content from Blue subscribers relative to the other factors we consider in conversation rankings.
What is an NFT and how do I use it as a profile picture?
NFTs (short for Non-Fungible Tokens) are unique digital items, such as artwork, with proof of ownership that’s stored on a blockchain (a digital database that’s publicly accessible).
After a temporary connection to your crypto wallet that allows you to set up an NFT as your profile picture, your digital asset displays in a special hexagon shape that identifies you as the owner of that NFT.
Right now Twitter only supports static image NFTs (JPEG, PNG) minted on the Ethereum blockchain for example ERC-721 and ERC-1155 tokens. You can learn more about setting up an NFT profile picture here.
What is a crypto wallet?
Crypto wallets allow you to hold and transact buy, sell, convert, send, etc. with tokens owned by your public wallet address. This includes NFTs which are a type of token.
A crypto wallet has one or more public addresses that are sometimes called accounts.
This address is public, so anyone who knows your wallet address will be able to see all of your wallet’s transactions and holdings.
To set up an NFT profile picture, you’ll need to connect your Twitter account to a crypto wallet that holds the NFT you’d like to select.
Twitter currently supports Argent, Coinbase Wallet, Ledger Live, MetaMask, Rainbow, Trust Wallet
Is an NFT profile picture safe?
Setting up an NFT profile picture means people can associate your Twitter account with your connected wallet’s public crypto wallet address.
This means your Twitter account will be associated with your current and historical crypto wallet transactions and holdings, including all other NFTs in that wallet, because this information is all available on the public blockchain.
A couple of things to be aware of when connecting a crypto wallet to your Twitter account:
Twitter will never request funds from your crypto wallet.
You should remain vigilant, and check all incoming requests to your wallet. Don’t accept any transfer requests unless it is a known transaction to you.
Twitter will never request your private key or seed phrase, and you should never share your private keys or seed phrases anywhere, including on Twitter.
Although we won’t maintain an ongoing connection with your crypto wallet, we store your public address to ensure that it continues to hold the NFT you set as your profile picture.