Elon Musk Considers Charging All X Users a Fee for Platform
Elon Musk is considering a significant change for X, previously known as Twitter. He’s considering introducing a monthly subscription fee for all users. During an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Musk, the owner of X, mentioned that he is exploring the possibility of implementing “lower-tier pricing” for all users. He explained that this potential change addresses the challenges posed by large groups of automated bots on the platform.
“Lower-Tier Pricing” on X
Musk stated that X intends to introduce a “lower-tier pricing” option that would be designed to be more cost-effective than the current subscription fee for existing X premium subscribers. However, he didn’t provide specific details regarding the pricing structure. He mentioned that adding a subscription would make it much more difficult for automated bots to create accounts because each bot would need to register a new credit card.
As of now, X already charges a monthly fee of $8 for users who have been verified. This subscription includes the verified checkmark and provides access to special features, such as the ability to edit posts. For organizations, a verified subscription on X costs $1,000 per month, with an additional $50 per month for each affiliated account.
Musk also provided specific data about X, reporting that it currently has 550 million monthly users who collectively generate between 100 to 200 million posts daily. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain what proportion of these users are humans instead of automated bots.
While the primary focus of Musk’s discussion with Netanyahu was the regulation of AI, Musk also took the opportunity to address claims that his platform tolerates hate speech and antisemitism. He insisted that hate speech and misinformation have decreased on the platform since he took over. Many organizations dispute his claims. In December 2022, Media Matters for America, a non-profit research and information center, reported that anti-LGBTQ hate has increased on Twitter since Musk officially acquired the company.
On July 22, 2023, Twitter changed its name to X. Musk, the owner of X, said on the platform that the name change reflects the platform’s shift towards being an “everything app.” Musk emphasized that it’s not just a name change but a significant change in the platform’s purpose.
Watch the interview here.