Hey there, my tech-loving followers! Twitter has just launched its encrypted direct messages, but there’s a catch – you have to pay for it. In a new support document, Twitter has revealed the details of the platform’s first version of encrypted DMs. While WhatsApp, Messenger, Signal, and iMessage offer the same feature for free, Twitter is charging a fee to access it.

According to the document, only verified users who pay for Twitter Blue, verified organizations that pay $1,000 per month, or affiliates of verified organizations who pay $50 per month can send and receive encrypted messages. Both the sender and receiver must also have the latest version of the Twitter app on mobile and web. Additionally, an encrypted DM recipient must follow the sender, have sent a message to the sender in the past, or accept a DM request from the sender at some point.

If you meet these criteria and can send encrypted messages, you’ll see a lock toggle while drafting a message. In an encrypted conversation, you’ll also see a small lock icon next to the avatar of the person you’re chatting with. Encrypted DMs will be separate from unencrypted ones.

However, there are limitations to this feature. Encrypted DMs can only be sent in one-on-one conversations and can only contain text and links. Twitter warns that it doesn’t have protections against man-in-the-middle attacks. If someone were to compromise an encrypted conversation, neither the sender nor receiver would know.

The company is planning mechanisms to make man-in-the-middle attacks more difficult and alert users if one happens. Twitter also notes that while messages and reactions to encrypted DMs are encrypted, metadata (recipient, creation time, etc.) and any linked content (only links themselves, not any content they refer to) are not encrypted.

Encrypted DMs seem to be a priority for Elon Musk, who spelled it out as part of “Twitter 2.0” for employees in November. However, the fact that Twitter is charging for a feature that is free on other platforms may not sit well with users.

What do you think about Twitter’s encrypted DMs behind a paywall? Will you be paying for the feature or sticking with the free options? Let us know in the comments below!