New York MTA resumes transit alerts on Twitter
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York said it would resume posting automated transit alerts to Twitter after the social media company backtracked on a plan to charge public service accounts for access to the platform.
CNN
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York said that it will resume posting automated transit updates to Twitter after the social media firm backed down on its plan to charge public accounts for access.
MTA's Acting Chief Customer Service Officer Shanifah Rieara stated in a statement on Thursday that Twitter tried to charge MTA over $500,000 per year for access to their platform. However, the MTA declined.
The MTA posted on Twitter: 'We are glad that Twitter is offering free API access to public service providers'. This refers to the software interface which allows third parties to automate posts on Twitter.
Another tweet added: "We know customers missed us so we will resume posting service updates on URL. URL. URL. and URL.
Twitter has been trying to charge businesses to use its platform in recent weeks. The top-tier paid plan costs up to $2.5 million per year. In March, public services warned of the potential disruptions in weather and transit notifications.
Twitter reversed course Tuesday in response to the public outcry and announced that verified government accounts will once again be allowed to send automated tweets free of charge.