With more limits and money-based restrictions than ever, Twitter isn't doing much to reassure users

TOKYO Semiconductor materials maker JSR Corp's board will meet on Monday to discuss a potential multi-billion dollar buyout

Addison Rae's throwback post talked about her love for smiles, dramatic stares, swimming, feather boas, and her father

If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for

New ick unlocked: People are paying for blue ticks on Instagram. Avid Instagrammers will have noticed the surge of blue ticks taking over the platform, leaving people confused as to how their friend become an overnight internet sensation. As exciting as that would be, it's sadly not the case. Instead, people are using their hard-earned money for a blue badge. For the blissfully unaware, Instagram followed in the footsteps of Twitter recently by offering a monthly subscription service from £9.99 a month. Let's break this down: Public figures Instagram offer free blue tick verification to public figures including professionals, journalists, influencers, celebrities and brands who meet the platform's account and eligibility requirements. Their accounts must be authentic, unique, complete and notable, meaning they "must represent a well-known, highly searched for person, brand or entity". "We review accounts that are featured in multiple news sources, and we don't consider paid or sponsored media content as sources for review," Instagram said. Once verified, public figures, celebrities and brands that meet certain account and eligibility requirements may not change their username on their account – nor can it be transferred to a different account. On the flip side, there's 'Meta Verified', the new subscription model that allows any Instagram user to pay monthly for a tick. As it stands, Instagram has used the same colour and design for both paying users and notable figures, making it difficult for users to set the two apart. Whether or not they will make the two more identifiable in the future is unclear. Meta Verified / paying subscribers Now, anyone can apply to be verified using their ID and a spare £10 a month. Meta suggests it's to help people have more protection from impersonation and give them access to a "real person" if they encounter any issues. Indy100 reached out to Instagram for comment. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Authorities say six people were killed when a small plane crashed and burst into flames in a field near a Southern California airport

The leader of Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah movement on Saturday stepped up his attacks against the...

Hasso Plattner, co-founder of German software firm SAP, concluded an agreement with a bank, which was not named,

Police say former NHL player Nicolas Kerdiles has died after a motorcycle crash in Nashville

By Ankur Banerjee SINGAPORE Asian shares made a tentative start to Thursday after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell

Arsenal set an unwanted English record after conceding the Premier League title to Man City.

By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed NEW YORK Surging U.S. real yields are aiding the dollar's rebound, rewarding bullish investors