‘Opening Up’ features seem to be an ongoing trend for most social media platforms right now. The latest in the series of universalizing functionality is Twitter opening up its ‘Super Follow’ feature to all users on iOS, adding more monetization options for creators, expanding their ability to draw direct income from their biggest supporters.

(Super)Follow Closely

‘Super Follows’ was originally opened for public applications in June, earlier this year. It then launched as a limited beta later on in September. ‘Super Follows’ basically enable Twitter users with more than 10k followers to set a monthly subscription fee. That’s right; qualifying users will basically be able to charge followers (up to $9.99) simply by producing quality and highly-interactive content.

Once creators activate ‘Super Follow’, they will also be provided with a new ‘Super Followers’ Tweet audience selection option. The new tab is more a handy utility than anything else, as it will enable creators to limit the reach of their content to paid followers.

Alternatively, this also provides creators with additional means on how they can build a paying audience, which is all part of Twitter’s broader push to further incentivize its top creators, thus positively influencing both engagement and interaction. ‘Super Follow’ is but one of several new platform monetization projects being tested, along with Twitters:

‘Profile Tips’ – Similar to ‘Direct Donations’ as featured on Twitch, and more recently, TikTok. Must be aged 18 and older to have this option available. Currently available to iOS only.  

‘Ticketed Spaces’ – A ‘Paid Subscription’ format made available to Twitter users with more than 1k followers that have hosted at least three spaces within the last 30 days.

‘Spark Spaces Funding’ – A relatively new initiative just introduced last week. It looks to provide chosen participants with $2500 as part of their monthly aid to continue developing audio social content.

Revenue Newsletter Links – Not a direct monetization option per se, but these links enable newsletter creators to promote their offers directly on their Twitter profiles and posts.

These initiatives are part of Twitter’s broader plan to boost both usage and revenue and are in line with meeting key 2023 goals resulting from an activist investment group that bought out Twitter’s stocks and moved to have CEO Jack Dorsey removed for his “apparent lack of maximization for the app’s true potential.” While Dorsey, thanks to the help of his executive team, was able to stay the execution, they have quite the ways to go before they’re anywhere near being “on track”.

The Wrap

Twitter has had a long list of projects ever since its little “impeachment” scrape. Sad to say that not all of its ideas really caught on, with its Stories-like option called ‘Fleets’ being retired in less than a year’s time. It’s hard to really tell, at least outside of ‘Spaces’ and all related elements, if any of Twitter’s new stuff actually gains traction. One thing is for sure, a likely element that would greatly go against ‘Super Follow’ would be habitual behavior – why would Twitter users take up a paid variant of something they have otherwise always accessed for free?

If Twitter can somehow manage to better translate their shifts for their users, then they may yet be able to get them more accustomed to spending within the platform. Perhaps a more organic integration of rising eCommerce trends would help Twitter to better position itself as an evolving, monetized audio-centric platform.

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Sources 

https://bit.ly/3nRiune