In order to improve its revenue, Twitter is now exploring the possibility of selling usernames, the New York Times. The reports come as Elon Musk, the owner of the social network, is actively looking for solutions to generate revenue for his company.
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According to the report, the company’s engineers have considered launching online auctions that would allow users to bid on usernames, commonly referred to as handles. The possibility of a new revenue stream has been heavily discussed since December. It’s not yet known whether the idea will actually be implemented, and if so, which usernames it might affect.
Last month, Elon Musk said in a tweet that more than 1.5 billion usernames would soon become available on Twitter as inactive accounts are purged from the platform. After acquiring the social networking platform in October, Musk made it clear via a tweet that he was ready to release coveted usernames for those who sought them.
Twitter has a strict stance against buying or selling usernames, as indicated by its username hijacking policy . While this policy prohibits it, users have long been able to purchase desirable Twitter usernames from illegal marketplaces . Not only have legitimate companies benefited from the sale of desirable usernames, but hackers have as well.
See also: Three years in prison for hacker of celebrity Twitter accounts
In 2020, a young hacker made headlines after he hacked into the social network to steal and then sell famous usernames. The hacker infiltrated the accounts of prominent individuals, including Elon Musk, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and many other important figures.
In October, Telegram announced that it would be auctioning usernames for both personal accounts and channels as part of its new blockchain marketplace TON. Telegram is an instant messaging app that has become increasingly popular in recent years. It offers users a wide range of features and options, making it a great choice for staying connected with friends and family. In addition, there are numerous bots that allow users to automate various tasks, such as creating polls or sending reminders. There are also quite a few fun bots, such as gaming bots that allow users to play games with each other while chatting!
Since Musk acquired Twitter for a whopping $44 billion, he has been trying to introduce new monetization methods that will pull the company out of its current financial slump caused by falling advertising revenue. It seems that since Musk joined Twitter, many advertisers have abandoned the platform, and as a result, the company has been forced to downgrade its internal revenue estimates.
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In recent months, the organization has taken various measures to boost its profits. Just last month, the company announced that it intends to lift the ban on political advertising within a few weeks.
