Twitter logo displayed on smartphone app

Twitter to Launch Super Follow Subscription Feature

Along with other new features coming soon – Communities, Spaces and Revue.

During Twitter’s Analyst Day 2021 held last week, social media platform Twitter revealed that it will launch a Super Follow subscription feature for users. With Super Follow, Twitter users can pay a monthly subscription fee to get access to exclusive content not available to regular users. The subscription content can include exclusive or bonus tweets, access to community groups, exclusive videos, offers and discounts, paid newsletters and supporter badges, reports Entrepreneur.

The Super Follow subscription feature will be available to top users, including brands, celebrities and influencers, to monetize their content. Twitter did not identify what qualifies someone to use the Super Follow feature.

Twitter users will pay a subscription fee of around $5 a month per account to access exclusive content, but it is not clear how much of that subscription fee will go to the creator (e.g., brand, celebrity or influencer) and how much Twitter will keep for providing the service.

Though Twitter did not provide a release date for the Super Follow subscription feature, the company said they would release more details in the coming months. Super Follow will be the first paid feature, not including advertising, made available on Twitter. Previously, the company revealed that it was exploring a number of subscription features, but did not disclose which would make the cut.

Super Follow will be the first subscription feature offered by Twitter.
Super Follow will be the first subscription feature offered by Twitter. Image courtesy of Twitter.

“Exploring audience funding opportunities like Super Follows will allow creators and publishers to be directly supported by their audience and will incentivize them to continue creating content their audience loves,” said Twitter.

Twitter Communities, Spaces and Revue

Twitter also revealed several other new features, including Twitter Communities. Similar to Facebook Groups, Twitter users can join a discussion about specific topics.

“We’re working to create a product experience that makes it easier for people to form, discover and participate in conversations that are more targeted to the relevant communities or geographies they’re interested in,” Twitter said during the event.

Centered around a specific topic, Twitter Communities will operate similar to Facebook Groups.
Centered around a specific topic, Twitter Communities will operate similar to Facebook Groups. Image courtesy of Twitter.

Spaces, which others are comparing to Clubhouse, will be a way for Twitter users to connect via audio chat.

Twitter Spaces is an audio chat feature that will be similar to Clubhouse.
Twitter Spaces is an audio chat feature that will be similar to Clubhouse. Image courtesy of Twitter.

In January, Twitter acquired Revue. The company plans to utilize that platform so creators and publishers can develop their own paid newsletters, similar to Substack.

Using Twitter's new acquisition Revue, Twitter users can create paid newsletters.
Using Twitter’s new acquisition, Revue, Twitter users can monetize newsletters. Image courtesy of Twitter.

Goals for 2023

Twitter concluded its presentation to analysts and investors by sharing three key goals for the company to achieve in 2023:

  1. Double development velocity by the end of 2023
  2. Have 315 million or more mDAU in the fourth quarter of 2023
  3. More than double total annual revenue to $7.5 billion in 2023

Insider Take

For months, Twitter has been talking about finding new ways to monetize the social media platform. Subscriptions are one way they have been exploring, as we outlined in our February 12, 2021 article. Currently, Twitter gets 85% of its revenue from advertising. Branching out into subscriptions will help the company diversify revenue streams while also better serving their audiences. By adding new functionality, Twitter is better positioned for long-term sustainability and to attract (or distract) users from other social platforms.

Up Next

Register Now For Email Subscription News Updates!​

Search this site

You May Be Interested in:

Join us to master the latest subscription business strategies, from emerging payment trends