Feedback appreciated, now pay $8: Elon Musk to US politician over Twitter blue tick fee

© Provided by India Today Feedback appreciated, now pay $8: Elon Musk to US politician over Twitter blue tick fee

Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk has ruffled quite a few feathers after taking over the reigns of the micro-blogging platform Twitter.His decision to charge $8 dollars for a month for keeping the blue tick, a symbol that sets aside verified users, has prompted reactions, mostly negative, from many users of the platform.

On Wednesday, US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took a potshot at Elon Musk over the blue tick fee. In her tweet, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote, "Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that "free speech" is actually an $8/mo subscription plan."

Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that "free speech" is actually a $8/mo subscription plan

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 2, 2022

Replying to the Congresswoman, Elon Musk reiterated his stance on the blue tick fee and quipped, "Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8".

Just a day after sharing her views on the contentious matter, Ocasio-Cortez shared another post claiming that her Twitter mentions/notifications stopped working following her exchange with Elon Musk. "Also my Twitter mentions/notifications conveniently aren't working tonight, so I was informed via text that I seem to have gotten under a certain billionaire's skin," the politician wrote.

Also my twitter mentions/notifications conveniently aren't working tonight, so I was informed via text that I seem to have gotten under a certain billionaire's skin 😂

Just a reminder that money will never by your way out of insecurity, folks.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 3, 2022

Elon Musk upped the ante against the US politician and, in a tweet, highlighted the price of a sweatshirt listed on Ocasio-Cortez's website. Sharing a picture of the product, he drew a circle over its price tag of $58. Ocasio-Cortez sprung to her defence stating that her workers make a living wage, have full healthcare, and aren't subject to racist treatment in their workplaces. "Team AOC honors and respects working people," said Cortez. 

My workers are union, have full healthcare + benefits like childcare help, and every one is paid a living wage. Proceeds go to community acts like tutoring underserved kids.

You're a union buster with an ego problem who pockets the change from underpaying and mistreating people.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 3, 2022

While many have expressed their disapproval over charging $8 for the verified badge, Musk has maintained that the fee is reasonable. 

To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2022

Later in the day, Ocasio-Cortez said "One guy's business plan for a $44 billion over-leveraged purchase is apparently to run around and individually ask people for $8."

One guy's business plan for a $44 billion over-leveraged purchase is apparently to run around and individually ask people for $8.

Remember that next time you question yourself or your qualifications.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 3, 2022

After Elon Musk became the new owner of the microblogging platform, reports suggested that verified Twitter users will soon have to pay a fee to retain their blue tick, which authenticates the identity of the account holder.