Cape Town – Nando’s and South African-born comedian Trevor Noah recently reacted to South African billionaire businessman Elon Musk’s move to charge for the blue verification tick on Twitter.
Musk became the owner of the social media app after he struck a $44 billion deal earlier this year.
The controversial billionaire, who is also now the owner of the social media app, announced his plans to generate more income from the platform by introducing an $8 (around R145) monthly payment fee for the blue verification tick.
Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit.
Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022
The news didn’t sit well with some Twitter users. Nando’s and Noah were among those who didn’t appreciate the news.
Nando’s and Noah made fun of the businessman title “Chief Twit” and what has been deemed a desperate attempt to make the app profitable.
“America has made you slow. Too much tweeting, Elon,” said Nando’s.
One small step from the kasi, one quantum leap to #Marzansi. pic.twitter.com/LsASz3t1Nj
— NandosSA (@NandosSA) November 4, 2022
Noah, on the other hand, claimed that the billionaire was finding it hard to make money from the app and alleged that he wanted people to make reckless financial decisions.
“I guess he’s hoping that everyone else on Twitter will also make terrible financial decisions like he did,” Noah joked.
“You realise with $8 a month you could get Netflix, you get Paramount+, you could get Hulu or you can pay so that people verify that they’re actually sh***ing on you.”
Noah said that the idea defeated the purpose of why Musk allegedly bought the popular app, to bring about equality.
“If you’re trying to create equality on Twitter, why charge anyone to be verified? Give it to everyone for free or give it to no-one because it doesn’t make sense to offer it as ‘equality’ and then put a price on it,” said Noah.
“Can you imagine if MLK [Martin Luther King Jr] was out there like: ‘I have a dream, I have a dream and I’ll tell you all about it for $8.99 a month.”
Charging eight dollars a month to be verified on Twitter? Is Elon Musk hoping everyone else makes terrible financial decisions like him? pic.twitter.com/fwJKCEGtPR
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) November 2, 2022
The comedian also suggested other means for Musk to make profits, saying he should “charge white people to say the N-word”
Here are some reactions on Twitter
What about the people who can’t afford $8/month?
— Bridget Phetasy (@BridgetPhetasy) November 1, 2022
Imagine asking your most valued account holders — the ones whose content brings people to this platform — to pay $240/annually for the privilege of providing free content. Insane.
— Formerly MTfromCC (@TMtfromcc) November 1, 2022
So – the way to do away with the “lords & peasants” system is to [checks notes] elevate the tweets and replies of those able to afford to pay $8 a month for this platform Vs those who cannot?
And you don’t see the hypocrisy here? ?
— Jo ? (@JoJoFromJerz) November 1, 2022
Way to dilute the blue tick verification. Real important people will leave, and take with them the users you need to justify the platform.
When businesses and media buy blue ticks, they will in turn try to monetise their tweets. Twitter will become a bill board.— Kasturi Shankar (@KasthuriShankar) November 1, 2022
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Picture: Twitter/ @spacemxsk
Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
