I don't think its that. I think it is literal to the effect of, twitter wouldn't have such a huge crowd to serve ads to without people like King who have tons of followers coming to the platform to get updates. An example, I don't have a twitter account, but I will surf Hector Martin's twitter for updates on Asahi Linux development. If it wasn't for Hector Martin's content, twitter would never be requested by my browser.

So it is essentially, charge the people who bring the users to twitter.

But Hector Martin doesn't have a bluecheck: https://twitter.com/marcan42

I don’t think you could have misread this interaction more than you already have.

I can see how you think that if you're not familiar with how blue checks are awarded and what they mean to the nobility class of Twitter.

I am very aware of that.

I think you’re not familiar with a King as a person or an author based on your comment.

Finally, you thinking Musk was mocking is also wrong. He was using Kings viral tweet as a jump off point for the tweet this HN post is based off of.

"The nobility class".

What an absolute clownish take.

But very possibly the type of clownish take Musk is trying to monitize by charging for access to it.

Oh, absolutely.

I think you're misreading how much an elderly ultra-famous and quite rich author gives a shit about his "status" on some stupid website like Twitter.

I think he was insulted at the idea of having to pay anything to be verified on the platform, when both his presence and his being verified are helpful to twitter and make twitter money, even if they do also drive some book sales for him. I took it as his saying that he'd respond to such an insult (being asked to pay) by simply leaving, because Twitter and whatever little extra money it's making him don't really matter much to him.

I doubt he's alone in that thinking. Though sure, some celebs, most or all brands (that's who they should be soaking with monthly charges), and the media will stick around until/unless the platform enters clear decline and a viable alternative emerges.

Yeesh, what is with the Twitter/Musk fanboy crowd and journalists and blue checks. It's such an unhinged and nonsensical hatred. Reeks of being jealous.

Don’t you know, Elon is always a man of the people playing 75D chess against his adversaries.

King responds saying Twitter should be paying him. I think that makes a lot of sense.

It will be both. Pay to verify, get paid for creating content.

"This will also give Twitter a revenue stream to reward content creators"

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1587505731611262976

What kind of content is being created on Twitter that warrants being paid? Reddit works flawlessly without that in longer form

Flawless has never been a word to describe Reddit.

Depends on the type of subs one frequents. Niche ones like StableDiffusion are super active with very in-depth discussion and tutorials being written. I rarely see that much commitment even for any Twitter thread

Reddit the same site that deletes tons of comments and bans subreddits?

agreed, it seems like Twitter is fundamentally about broadcasting content made somewhere else, not making content.

Points of view that Elon likes, I imagine. Especially ones that can't get revenue elsewhere for peddling pro-virus points of view, for example.

Completely wrongheaded. If anything, twitter should be paying anonymous users. Bluechecks are the ones who use twitter to build their personal brand, sell books, etc..

Do you not know who Steven King is? It's certainly easier to google him than to come up with a take like this in response.

Yes I do know who Steven King is. Even famous authors need to spend a lot of money on advertising when they publish a new book, and twitter certainly helps here.

Saying Steven King, one of the most successful authors in the world, needs Twitter to market his books is a such an insane take that it warrants asking if you have any idea what you're talking about imo

Steven King (or his publisher) spend more then $8 per month advertising his books. He might not need twitter, but it's worth more then $8 per month to him.

I honestly don't know what's so hard to understand about this. Do you think apple isn't going to pay $8 per month for a verified twitter account either, since it's already one of the most valuable brands on earth?

Exactly!

Blue checkmarks aren't status symbols. You could always have requested one in the past without paying a dime.

The entire point of these things were so that it was an indication that these people are who they say they are: experts and celebrities.

This absolute loon wants to charge the people who are the only reason that twitter even still exists.

It's remarkable how quickly so many of those defending Musk are emphasising the 'lords' and 'peasants' language after he used that terminology in a tweet.

It's not original, it's not adding to the discussion, and it just sounds like sycophancy.