Media's reactions to Paid subscriptions on Twitter vs. other social media platforms

[AgnosticBoy]

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Elon Musk and his takeover of Twitter.

Last year, Elon Musk started paid subscriptions on Twitter. The subscription involves putting a blue check mark next to your name which would show that your account and identity were verified. I remember much of the media criticizing Musk's decision. Well now, Facebook and Instagram are proposing the same thing.

“Meta Verified” will start at $11.99 a month on the web or $14.99 a month on iOS, and the company will begin releasing it in Australia and New Zealand this week and “more countries soon.”

The service also comes with other perks: extra protection from impersonation accounts and direct access to customer support.

To avoid fake accounts, customers who want to get the blue badge would need to provide a government ID which matches their profile name and picture. Users must also be above 18 to be eligible.

“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” Zuckerberg wrote in an Instagram broadcast channel.

Source: CNN

The ironic thing is that Twitter was heavily criticized and mocked for having members pay for verified accounts. But now, Facebook and others are trying out the same thing and there's little to no criticism. The hypocrisy here is astounding and it's one reason people can't fully trust the mainstream media.

Any thoughts are welcomed...