You’ve probably heard of the big change coming to Twitter: the Super Follow feature. This feature will be added to Twitter as a way to help creators get paid for their work by charging a fee from followers.
But what really does the Super Follow feature mean and how will it work? In this article, you’ll learn more about the feature, what Twitter has revealed about it, and how it will likely work.
What Is the Twitter Super Follow Feature?
The Super Follow feature will allow content creators on Twitter to charge a pay-to-follow subscription fee from users who wish to get access to exclusive content.
Super Followers will get exclusive access to a series of perks like supporter badges, subscriber-only newsletters, pay-walled content, deals and discounts, as well as community access.
It will act as a different tier of follower, separate from regular 'free' followers.
How the Super Follow Feature Is Likely to Work
From what Twitter has revealed about the Super Follow feature, the feature will replicate some of the functionality of platforms like Patreon and YouTube.
Patreon also lets content creators share exclusive content and perks with their subscribers, who pay a monthly fee. Twitter is looking in that direction now.
Twitter’s official mock-up for the feature showed a subscription that costs $4.99 per month. By subscribing, the user receives a supporter badge, access to exclusive content, deals and discounts, and community access.
Will the Twitter Super Follow Feature Take Off?
Similar membership platforms like Patreon and OnlyFans have experienced considerable success with this model. But there’s currently no way of telling whether or not it will work for Twitter.
Consider this: will you pay for exclusive content from your favorite Twitter content creators?
Judging by the reactions Twitter users shared after the announcement of the feature, the success of the feature depends largely on two major factors...
1. The Quality of Content Behind the Paywall
Having allowed users free access to content on its platform for years, making users pay for access to extra tweets just won't cut it.
The responses that trailed the announcement of the feature also show that the majority of the platform users are not willing to pay “just to read tweets”.
For the feature to be popular on the platform, it has to offer other perks beyond just extra tweets.
However, from what mock-ups show, it seems Twitter has got this figured out already as the Super Follow subscription menu shows a range of other exclusive perks.
2. The Cut Twitter Will Take From Super Follows
Another major factor that will determine whether or not the Super Follow feature will take off is how Twitter plans to share the revenue with creators.
Bear in mind that both Google and Apple already take a statutory cut from all in-app subscriptions. How does Twitter plan to share the remaining amount of the subscription revenue with its creators?
With most influencers already using Patreon and OnlyFans to share exclusive content with their followers for a fee, how Twitter plans to share the subscription revenue with creators will either help the feature take off, or take it down.
But What About the Backlash From Twitter Users?
If you scroll through most of the responses to the Super Follow feature, you’ll find that some Twitter users are yet to understand how the feature will work. One of the most popular points of criticism was that Twitter was trying to make users pay to read tweets. However, this isn't the case.
You’ll still be able to read and interact with tweets from your favorite creators, except they, on their own accord, can decide to make certain tweets “premium”. You’ll only have to pay if you want to be a Super Follower. It’s unlikely that Twitter will force the feature on you or your favorite creators.
A positive side of the backlash is that, should Twitter decide to proceed with the launch of the feature, the company already knows that bare-bones features won't cut it for users.
Wrapping it Up
The likelihood of the super follow feature affecting the Twitter experience we have now is very low. It’s hard to imagine Twitter as anything other than a free social network.
The Super Follow feature will most likely be used by creators who already use third-party membership platforms to charge their followers for exclusive content and who wish to streamline their processes and have it all in one place.
However, the feature is still a work-in-progress and doesn't have an announced launch date yet.
Image Credit: Twitter