Elon Musk’s Platform X Considers Charging Users Monthly Fee to Combat Fake Accounts
In a recent conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), hinted at making significant changes to the social media platform. One such change might involve implementing a small monthly fee for all users to combat the issue of fake accounts, also known as bots. Musk aims to address the problem of fake accounts by requiring users to pay to use the platform. However, he did not specify the exact amount of the fee or the benefits that users would receive in return, according to a CNBC report.
During the discussion with Netanyahu, Musk shared some impressive numbers about X’s current user base. He revealed that X now boasts 550 million monthly users who generate approximately 100 to 200 million posts on a daily basis. However, Musk did not clarify the extent to which these users are genuine individuals rather than bots. Additionally, he did not provide a comparison to the user numbers X had prior to his acquisition.
Although the primary intention of Musk’s conversation with Netanyahu was to discuss the potential risks associated with advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, Musk took the opportunity to address criticism surrounding X’s handling of hate speech and anti-Semitism on its platform. Musk has faced backlash from civil rights groups for allegedly not doing enough to curb hate speech and anti-Semitic content on X. He even mentioned the possibility of suing the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish organization, for adversely impacting X’s revenue. However, as of now, no lawsuit has been filed by Musk or X Corp against the ADL, and the organization has not provided an immediate comment on the matter.
Prior to the meeting with Netanyahu, Musk made negative comments about various groups and individuals on his social media platform. However, during the conversation, he asserted that he opposes any form of attack on groups and emphasized the importance of unity in humanity’s pursuit of space exploration goals.
Following his acquisition of X for $44 billion, Musk made significant changes to the platform. He allowed previously banned accounts, including that of former President Donald Trump, to return. Additionally, he abolished the blue check verification system, which was used to identify accounts of famous personalities.
Under the new system, users who pay the monthly fee will receive a blue badge next to their names, resulting in increased visibility for their posts. In contrast, users who do not pay the fee may experience reduced attention for their posts. Musk believes that this change will discourage the use of bots on the platform.
Furthermore, X is actively working on obtaining licenses to operate as a money transmitter in the United States. Public records indicate that the platform has already acquired permission to operate in eight states.
As Elon Musk contemplates introducing a monthly fee for X users, his objective is to tackle the issue of fake accounts or bots on the platform. However, the specifics of the fee and the benefits users would receive remain unclear. Amidst concerns over hate speech and anti-Semitism on X, Musk has also addressed criticism and mentioned the possibility of legal action. With significant changes already implemented, including the return of banned accounts and the removal of the blue check verification system, Musk aims to create a more transparent and reliable social media experience on X.
