Sections of this topic
In this article, we’ll look at the reasons behind the rebranding of Twitter’s Super Follows to Subscriptions and explore how this feature aims to benefit creators and users alike.
Key Takeaways:
- Twitter has rebranded Super Follows to Subscriptions.
- With Subscriptions, creators can charge users for exclusive content, such as tweets, subscriber-only Spaces, and badges.
- The feature is seen as competition for newsletter platform Substack.
- If creators earn less than $50,000 in total, they can get as much as 97% of the revenue. But if they earn more than that, they can still get up to 80% of the revenue.
- Twitter won’t take any of the money earned by creators through subscriptions in the next year.
From Super Follows to Subscriptions
If you’ve been keeping up with Twitter’s developments, you may already be familiar with the Super Follows feature.
Launched in 2021, this functionality allowed users to subscribe to individual creators for exclusive content. But now, Twitter has decided to rebrand this feature, calling it “Subscriptions.”
The change was announced by Twitter owner Elon Musk, who promoted the rebranded feature and mentioned that users can find it in the “Monetization” section of settings.
A Rival for Substack?
Interestingly, Twitter’s Subscriptions feature seems to be a direct shot at the newsletter platform, Substack.
This comes after Substack announced its own Twitter-like “Notes” feature just a week before.
In response, Twitter briefly limited the engagement with Substack’s links and their Twitter account, although these restrictions have been lifted since then.
With Twitter’s Subscriptions, creators can charge users for access to exclusive content, such as tweets, subscriber-only Spaces, and special badges.
Twitter also plans to include newsletters and other features as potential bonus content in the future, further hinting at the competition with Substack.
How Subscriptions Benefit Creators
Twitter’s Subscriptions feature is designed to provide creators with more opportunities to monetize their content.
It allows them to offer various types of exclusive material to their subscribers, which can help them build a more engaged and loyal following.
In addition, content producers have the opportunity to earn a high percentage of their revenue. If they earn less than $50,000 throughout their lifetime, they can earn up to 97%. However, if their earnings surpass $50,000, they will receive up to 80%.
With such a significant share of the earnings, creators have the potential to generate substantial income through Subscriptions.
Eligibility and Pricing for Offering Subscriptions
Of course, not everyone can start offering Subscriptions right away.
Twitter has established specific conditions that creators must meet in order to be eligible for a particular feature. These conditions include having a minimum of 500 followers, publishing 25 tweets in the previous 30 days, and being at least 18 years of age.
Additionally, according to the company’s support page, creators must possess a minimum of 10,000 active followers to meet the requirements.
As for pricing, creators can offer monthly subscriptions at $2.99, $4.99, or $9.99, according to Twitter.
While only creators in the US can start selling subscriptions, users in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia can currently purchase subscriptions on iOS, Android, and Twitter’s website.
However, it’s important to note that subscriber-only content can’t be viewed from the web.
Revenue Split and Future Promises
Twitter has made some bold promises regarding revenue sharing for creators using the Subscriptions feature.
For the next 12 months, Twitter won’t keep any of the money creators earn through subscriptions. This decision demonstrates the platform’s commitment to supporting creators and giving them a chance to maximize their earnings.
In addition to the revenue split, Elon Musk has also hinted at establishing a creator fund and providing creators with “higher compensation” for written and video content.
Although the specifics of these plans are still unclear, it’s evident that Twitter is serious about empowering creators and helping them succeed on the platform.
Conclusion
Twitter’s decision to rebrand Super Follows as Subscriptions is a strategic move aimed at providing creators with more opportunities to monetize their content and offer users access to exclusive material.
This change not only benefits creators but also has the potential to position Twitter as a direct competitor to platforms like Substack.
As Twitter continues to evolve and support creators with tools like Subscriptions, it will be interesting to see how the social media landscape adapts and how creators capitalize on these new opportunities to engage with their audiences.
