Elon Musk, the owner of X, has raised the possibility that the formerly free social network Twitter may transition into a paid platform. During a live-streamed discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk disclosed that the company is contemplating introducing a “small monthly payment” for using the X system. He argued that this change is essential to combating the pervasive issue of bots on the platform.
Elon Musk emphasized the need for this shift by highlighting the low cost associated with creating and deploying bots. He estimated that it costs only a fraction of a penny, perhaps one-tenth of a penny, to operate a bot. However, the effective cost of deploying bots would significantly increase by requiring bots to pay a nominal fee, such as a few dollars.
Additionally, this approach would necessitate a new payment method for each bot created, further deterring their proliferation. While Musk did not specify the exact subscription fee, he described it as a “small amount of money.”
During the conversation, Elon Musk also unveiled updated user statistics for X, revealing that the platform now boasts 550 million monthly users who generate 100 to 200 million posts daily. Notably, it remained to be seen whether Musk’s figures included automated accounts, encompassing both beneficial bots like news feeds and detrimental ones like spammers.
Comparing these statistics to Twitter’s user base before Musk’s involvement proved challenging because Musk used different metrics. Twitter had previously introduced the “average monetizable daily active users” (mDAU) to quantify users who could be monetized through ad views. In Q1 2022, Twitter reported 229 million mDAUs.
Elon Musk should have elaborated on the timeline or specifics of implementing the subscription model for X. However, since assuming control of the platform last year, the company has actively encouraged users to subscribe to its paid offering, X Premium (formerly known as Twitter Blue).
This subscription service, priced at $8 per month or $84 per year, provides various features, including post-editing, reduced ad frequency, enhanced search and conversation rankings, extended post length, and more.
Although X has yet to disclose the exact number of X Premium subscribers, independent research suggests that most X users have yet to adopt this premium service. One analysis estimated that only 827,615 users currently subscribe to X Premium.
It’s worth noting that Musk had previously contemplated placing all of Twitter’s content behind a paywall, as reported by Platformer last year.
In the broader discussion between Elon Musk and Netanyahu, the focus centered on AI technology and its regulation. Nonetheless, the issue of hate speech on X was also raised. Musk took a stand against antisemitism and any content that promotes hate and conflict.
It’s worth mentioning that Elon Musk had recently engaged in a public dispute involving threats to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League, which had accused both Musk and X of promoting antisemitism.
