In a recent revelation, tech mogul Elon Musk mentioned that users of the social media platform ‘X’, previously recognized as Twitter, might soon need to pay fees for accessing the site. This announcement has stirred considerable discussions among digital media enthusiasts and platform users.
During a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk highlighted the growing concern with automated accounts or “bots” exploiting the platform. He believes that introducing a payment system is the singular approach to combating this issue effectively.
The CEO of renowned companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and now ‘X’, remarked, “We are preparing to transition to a system that requires a monthly fee for system usage.” While the BBC made attempts to contact ‘X’ for further details, there was no response from their side at the time of reporting.
The ambiguity remains on whether Musk’s statement was a spontaneous remark or a hint towards a concrete plan yet to be officially unveiled.
Musk, now the owner of the ‘X’ social media platform, has previously alluded to the idea that imposing fees for verification could be the key to eliminating fake and automated accounts.
Ever since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter last year, he has been advocating for users to pay for an enhanced service, now termed “X Premium.” This premium service provides subscribers with numerous exclusive features, such as extended tweet lengths and increased platform visibility.
Although users can still access the ‘X’ platform for free, Musk’s push towards a paid model not only brings potential revenue but, as he emphasized, aims to address the bot account challenge. He stated, “The cost of launching a bot is a fraction of a cent. However, if someone had to pay a few dollars, even a nominal fee, the cost of creating bot accounts would rise significantly.”
Presently, “X Premium” subscribers in the United States are charged $8 monthly. However, the pricing varies depending on the country of residence for the subscriber.
