Elon Musk’s Plans to Introduce Subscription Model on X to Combat Bots
Elon Musk, the visionary owner of X, has recently made waves in the social media sphere with his audacious proposal to implement a subscription-based model on the popular platform. In a live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk revealed his plans to transition X from a free service to one that requires a nominal monthly fee. This strategic move aims to tackle the persistent issue of bots plaguing the platform.
Musk emphasized the need for such a change, explaining, It’s the only way I can think of to combat vast armies of bots. He further elaborated, stating, Because a bot costs a fraction of a penny – call it a tenth of a penny – but even if it has to pay… a few dollars or something, the effective cost of bots is very high. By introducing a subscription fee, Musk believes that it will deter bot creators by adding a significant barrier, thus discouraging mass production of these automated accounts.
While Musk did not disclose the exact cost of this new subscription payment, he referred to it as a small amount of money. This cryptic pricing strategy has generated speculation and anticipation among X users and observers.
During the conversation, Musk also shared intriguing statistics about X’s current user base. With an astounding 550 million monthly users, the platform generates between 100 to 200 million posts every day. However, one vital detail remains uncertain – whether these figures include automated accounts, encompassing both benign bots like news feeds and troublesome ones like spammers.
Additionally, Musk’s reported numbers do not allow for a direct comparison with Twitter’s user base prior to his takeover. Twitter traditionally measured user engagement using a metric called the average monetizable daily active user (mDAU), which represents users who can generate revenue through ad views. In the first quarter of 2022, Twitter reported 229 million mDAUs, providing a benchmark for comparison.
Musk hinted at the possibility of introducing a subscription fee on X without providing a concrete timeline for the transition. Since assuming control of the platform, he has actively encouraged users to subscribe to X Premium (formerly known as Twitter Blue). This subscription service, priced at $8 per month or $84 per year, offers various enticing features such as the ability to edit posts, reduced ad exposure, priority in search and conversations, and longer posts, among others.
However, despite these incentives, X has not disclosed the number of paid subscribers it has attracted. Independent research suggests that X Premium has yet to captivate a majority of X’s user base, with only 827,615 users currently subscribing.
The notion of placing X behind a paywall is not entirely new to Musk. Platformer reported last year that Musk had been contemplating the idea of making all of X’s content accessible only through a paid subscription.
While Musk’s conversation with Netanyahu primarily revolved around AI technology and its regulation, the issue of hate speech on X couldn’t be overlooked. Musk reaffirmed his stance, stating, I’m against antisemitism and anything that promotes hate and conflict. This declaration comes against the backdrop of recent accusations of antisemitism directed at Musk and X, prompting him to threaten legal action against the Anti-Defamation League.
As the possibility of paying for X looms, X users and the broader digital community eagerly await further details on this transformative shift in the social media landscape. Elon Musk’s bold vision for X may usher in a new era, challenging the norms of free access to digital platforms, and offering a potential solution to the persistent issue of bots.
