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Tumblr's subscription feature is now available to everyone in the US




Tumblr's subscription feature is now available to everyone in the US

Tumblr is expanding beta for its Posts Plus subscription feature to all users in the US today. Post Plus, similar to Twitter's Super Follow, allows creators to designate some of their posts only for paying subscribers. Tumblr is planning a full launch of the feature later in the fall.

Tumblr has made a few changes since the limited beta began in July. Post Plus creators can now directly block people who subscribe to them. Creators previously had to contact Tumblr support if they wanted to block a subscriber, raising concerns among users.

In addition to the existing $3.99, $5.99, or $9.99 options, there is now an option to set the subscription price to $1.99 per month. Instead of being limited to just monetizing new posts, creators can go back and pay for existing content. Tumblr is also removing the blue plus badge, which is similar to the Twitter verified badge that appears next to creators' usernames.

Tumblr says that many of the adjustments in the beta were made in response to user feedback. Predictably, many Tumblr users weren't happy with the initial Post Plus announcement. Some users also staged a log-off protest, citing particular concerns about the legitimacy of fans to monetize their work, although those concerns likely stem from a misunderstanding of copyright law.

Many Tumblr creators have already linked their Patreon or Ko-Fi accounts, so Post Plus is introduced as a way to support creators without leaving the platform. Tumblr has struggled to build back its user base following the mass exodus following the site's infamous 2018 porn ban. According to Tumblr, about half of its current users are Gen Z, and it hopes the monetization features will help attract more young creators.

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