Elon Musk has proposed the idea that all users of X, formerly known as Twitter, might need to start paying for access to the platform. During a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the billionaire emphasized the necessity of implementing a payment system as the primary strategy to combat the presence of automated bots.
Musk stated, “We’re shifting towards introducing a modest monthly fee for using the platform,” sharing his intention to charge users for access to X. The jomotoday reached out to X for additional information but has not yet received an official statement from the company.
It remains unclear whether Musk’s statement was a casual remark or a signal of more concrete plans that have yet to be disclosed. Musk has consistently advocated for charging users for verification as his solution to address the issue of bots and fake accounts on the social media platform.
Since assuming control of Twitter and rebranding it as X, Musk has been working to encourage users to subscribe to an enhanced service called X Premium. This effort includes providing paid subscribers with additional features such as longer posts and increased visibility on the platform. However, at present, users can still access X for free.
While there is a clear financial incentive for the company to start charging users, Musk emphasized that the primary goal is to combat the proliferation of bots. He noted that the cost of creating a bot is minimal, but even a small fee, such as a few dollars, would significantly increase the effective cost for bots.
X Premium is currently priced at $8 (£6.50) per month in the United States, with varying prices for subscribers in different countries. Musk mentioned that the company is exploring lower-tier pricing options to make the fee more affordable.
Musk believes that implementing a payment system is the most effective defense against large-scale bot attacks, although it carries the risk of potentially alienating a significant portion of X’s user base. This, in turn, could lead to a decrease in advertising revenue, which currently forms the majority of the company’s income.
During his conversation with the Israeli prime minister, Musk also discussed the issue of antisemitism on X. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has criticized the platform for not taking sufficient measures to combat antisemitic content. Musk stated that the company intends to sue the ADL to defend its platform’s reputation.
In response, Mr. Netanyahu acknowledged the challenge of balancing free speech with content moderation and urged Musk to strike the right balance. He expressed hope that within the boundaries of the First Amendment, X could effectively address not only antisemitism but also any form of collective hatred.
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