Back in November 2022,Poland Tumblr saw an opportunity in Twitter's blue-check verification scheme. Parodying the $8 blue check offered by Elon Musk's Twitter, Tumblr decided to do the same: making "Important Blue Internet Checkmarks" available for a one-time fee of $7.99. It would be an entirely pointless purchase, the company emphasized, but to be "an important person on the internet" it could be worth it.
Turns out, this mockery only worked in Tumblr's favor. The self-proclaimed joke has led to an uptick in revenue for the social site. According to TechCrunch, the Tumblr app gained $263,000 in consumer spending since the paid verification scheme was launched, which amounts to a 125 percent boost in iOS in-app revenue.
SEE ALSO: 9 ways Tumblr changed the internetGranted, the app offers other purchases like ad-free browsing paid boosts for posts; the rise in numbers can't be wholly attributed to the fake blue checks. However, Tumblr users did delight in the news of the fake blue tick, with overwhelmingly positive and amused responses.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Meanwhile, Twitter Blue, the social media company's paid subscription plan, has an estimated 180,000 subscribers as of mid-January. But the company is reportedly seeing stagnant subscription numbers; many prominent people and companies — including Tesla, where Musk is CEO — have unsubscribed.
The surge in revenue underscores the renaissance Tumblr is currently enjoying. Resurrected after near obsolescence, the platform is seeing growing popularity in the larger landscape of social media apps. At the time of writing, Tumblr reports 135 million monthly active users, and it is likely to welcome even more as Twitter's future remains in flux.
Patched Desktop PC: Meltdown & Spectre Benchmarked
Twitter and Jack Dorsey mock Facebook and Instagram outages
How to delete WhatsApp
Android 12 gets a tasty new dessert name
What cracked the Milky Way's giant cosmic bone? Scientists think they know.
Facebook, Instagram were down for six hours after whistleblower went public
How to set boundaries at work
Predictive text helped make a pretty great Gwenyth Paltrow Goop parody
Astronomers saw one galaxy impale another. The damage was an eye
Britney Spears' father can no longer control her
Sony launches new flagship XM6 headphones: Order them now
How to get HBO Max on Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, and other devices
Fitbit's smart watch collaboration with Adidas just went on pre
Uber driver has a Spotify playlist for every kind of passenger he picks up
Weather app glitch makes it look like hell is basically freezing over
Apple makes it easier to find your lost AirPods Pro
How to change your iPhone's app icons
Take a peek at future Lyft rides in Motional's self
Best Fire Stick deal: Save $20 on Amazon Fire Stick 4K
How to use Widgetsmith to create prettier iPhone widgets
South Korea vs Ghana livestream: How to watch FIFA World Cup Group H liveAmazon recruiters were laid off. AI tech might fill their roles.Ghana vs Uruguay livestream: How to watch World Cup Group H liveDonald Trump Jr.'s worst moments of 2019 (so far)'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for November 29ICE doxes thousands of immigrants seeking asylum on its websiteCosplayer Belle Delphine trolled her followers with the promise of a Pornhub accountCosta Rica vs Germany livestream: How to watch World Cup Group E liveCosplayer Belle Delphine trolled her followers with the promise of a Pornhub accountTwitter has released a bunch of spin about its ongoing Elon MuskApple Music Replay reminds you which songs you binged the most in 2022Jose Antonio Vargas on the LGBTQ movement, immigration, and the importance of storytellingSpain vs Germany livestream: How to watch FIFA World Cup Group E liveHow to not get sucked into the online skincare vortexSouth Korea vs Ghana livestream: How to watch FIFA World Cup Group H liveThe chatting dad and baby are back at it again in this adorable Denny's adTrump tries to pick Twitter fight with soccer star Megan RapinoeWordle today: Here's the answer, hints for November 30We're not fooling anyone with Facetune and 'pretty' filtersSpain vs Germany livestream: How to watch FIFA World Cup Group E live 25 ways to save $250 a month that everyone is messing up Doctor Who himself makes an appearance at the March for Science in London 'Last Jedi' director moves scar on Kylo Ren's face, chaos ensues Campus vending machine does you a solid by selling condoms, pregnancy tests How to turn on 'Undo Send' in Gmail Inside the filthy chaos of Gorillaz's Brooklyn house party pop Freak out over this video of the coolest flying car yet So you want to be a Google health lab rat? Here's what you'll have to do Space is a 'burrito of awesomeness' says our new favorite astronaut Man returns home to overjoyed mom after biking around the world for 7 years Uber employees seem to think #Undelete is a great idea for graffiti Internet angrily reminds Jeff Sessions that Hawaii is, in fact, a state This photo of Earth peeking out between Saturn's rings will make you feel small Move over, unicorn. These mythical creatures also deserve their own frappuccinos. Google Play update makes it easy to delete unusued Android apps 'The Handmaid's Tale' cast says their show isn't a 'feminist story' What it's actually like to hang out in Facebook Spaces Meet Steve, your new favorite astronomical phenomenon Bruce Springsteen slams 'con man' Trump in new song and we are here for it The Bill O'Reilly/Smash Mouth mashup nobody was asking for