Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has raised the idea of implementing a monthly payment system for all users of X, formerly known as Twitter. He discussed this potential change during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that such a system could be used to combat bots on the platform.
“We’re moving to having a small monthly payment for use of the system,” Musk stated during the conversation.
While Musk has previously advocated for charging for verification as a means of reducing bots and fake accounts on the platform, this recent comment hints at a broader subscription model that could affect all X users.
X has already introduced a premium service called X Premium, which offers paid subscribers additional features, such as longer posts and increased visibility on the platform. However, access to X is currently available for free to all users.
Musk’s rationale behind introducing a payment system is to make it financially challenging for bots to operate on the platform. He emphasized that the cost of creating and deploying a bot is minimal, often just a fraction of a penny. However, if users have to pay even a small fee, it significantly increases the cost for bots.
As of now, X Premium is priced at $8 per month in the United States, with varying prices in different countries. Musk mentioned that he is exploring the possibility of offering lower-tier pricing options to make the service more accessible.
While Musk sees this as a means to combat bots and enhance the platform’s quality, there are potential risks involved. Charging users for access could lead to a decline in user numbers, which could, in turn, impact advertising revenue—the primary source of income for the platform.
During the conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Musk also touched on the issue of antisemitism on X. The platform has faced criticism from organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for not doing enough to combat antisemitic content. Musk stated that he is “against antisemitism” and is committed to addressing such issues on the platform.
Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged the challenge of balancing free speech with content moderation and encouraged Musk to find the right balance within the framework of the First Amendment.
The implications of introducing a monthly fee for access to X remain uncertain, and it’s unclear whether X will officially adopt such a payment system in the future.
