Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned he might negotiate with Twitter’s new boss Elon Musk to keep away from paying the month-to-month $8 cost (roughly Rs. 660) for the “verified” badge.

After shopping for Twitter for $44 billion (roughly Rs. 3,63,500 crore) final week, Musk mentioned the corporate will cost $8 a month for its Blue service, which incorporates the sought-after blue test mark.

In an interview with Turkish broadcaster ATV on Wednesday, Erdoğan mentioned he might communicate to Musk and talk about the cost.

“It might be different for us,” Erdoğan mentioned, when requested in regards to the new cost for the blue test. “We could carry out some diplomacy with him as well,” he added jokingly.

A blue test mark subsequent to an individual’s person title on the social media platform means Twitter has confirmed that the account belongs to the particular person or firm claiming it. Twitter is at present free for many customers.

Billionaire Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion final week.

More than 80 p.c of Twitter customers who took half in a current ballot mentioned they’d not pay for the checkmark. Some 10 p.c mentioned they have been keen to pay $5 (roughly Rs. 410) a month.

Musk mentioned on Tuesday subscribers with blue test marks would get precedence in replies, mentions and search and would be capable of submit longer movies and audios. They would see half as many advertisements.

He additionally provided subscribers a paywall bypass from “publishers willing to work with us.”

Amid hypothesis that Twitter might quickly begin charging verified customers a month-to-month charge of $20 (roughly Rs. 1,700) for blue ticks, bestselling creator Stephen King tweeted: “If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.”

Separately, S&P Global Ratings downgraded Twitter to B- on “significant” debt improve following the acquisition.

© Thomson Reuters 2022