Twitter has launched Super Follows, its premium subscription option.
This feature was first announced in February. Users can subscribe to accounts they like and pay a monthly fee to receive exclusive content. Super Follows are another tool for creators in the growing array of monetization options on social media platforms.
Super Follow subscriptions can be priced by eligible accounts. They have the option to charge $2.99, $4.99, or $9.99 per monthly, which is comparable to a paid newsletter. The subscriber can choose to only mark certain tweets as private while still being able to reach their non-paid followers via regular tweets.
Subscribers who have paid for a subscription will be distinguished from the rest by a Super Follower badge. This badge will appear in replies and allows followers to interact with accounts they support. The option will be available on profiles with Super Follows enabled.
Super Follows can't be turned on for all. The process is currently only available to those who apply, and there is a waiting list. This option is available in the Monetization options section of the apps sidebar. However, users must be U.S.-based and have at least 10K followers.
Users of iOS Twitter from the U.S. or Canada will soon be able Super Follow certain accounts. More users worldwide will follow the rollout over the next few weeks. For now, Super Follows can only be enabled on iOS, but support for Android desktop and desktop will soon follow.
Twitter has stated that Super Follow income will fall under the 30 percent Apple and Google in-app purchase fees. Twitter will take a 3 per cent cut of earnings up to $50,000 from Super Follows. This is a boon to smaller accounts or those who use the paid Twitter feature to supplement their other income. Twitter will take a 20% cut if an account reaches $50,000 in earnings.
Twitter's first experiment in monetization is not Super Follows. Twitter launched Tip Jar in May. This allows accounts to receive one-time payments via integration with the Cash App or other payment platforms. For now, the test is restricted to a small number of accounts that are eligible, including journalists, creators, experts and non-profits.
Twitter launched Ticketed Spaces last week for users who had applied in June for the paid audio-room feature. Twitter's Ticketed Spaces fee mirrors that of Super Follows. Users will be able charge anything from $1 to $999 for advanced tickets.
After a long period of product stagnation, the product is the latest in a series of activities from Twitter. Twitter has been very busy over the past twelve months. It released and killed its fleets of ill-fated Fleets, as well as finally showing signs that it is pursuing the anti-abuse features so many have been requesting for years.
Twitter's decision to allow users to charge premium content is quite a departure from the norm. Until activist shareholders threatened to overthrow Jack Dorsey, Twitter largely remained the same. This is a significant move by the company to the creator space. More platforms are adding tools that empower users to create content, ideally keeping them engaged and generating revenue.
