Elon Musk has suggested the possibility of introducing a nominal fee for users to access the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He unveiled this idea during a live conversation with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The move is aimed at combatting proliferation of automated accounts, or bots, on the platform.
According to Musk, he believes that requiring users to pay for access will discourage the creation of fake accounts that disseminate misinformation, propaganda, and fraudulent schemes.
At present, specific details, such as the precise cost of the basic subscription and the launch date, remain undisclosed. However, Musk has indicated an intention for the fee to be relatively modest.
Currently, X offers both free access to its website and app for all users, as well as a premium service known as X Premium, priced at $8 per month. X Premium subscribers enjoy privileges like priority posting and the coveted verified blue checkmark on their profiles.
Musk acquired Twitter for approximately $44 billion in October 2022 and has since instigated substantial changes, including the dismissal of thousands of employees. The issue of combatting bots on social media platforms has been a widespread concern, and Musk’s actions reflect his commitment to addressing it.
It’s worth noting that Elon Musk had previously hinted at the possibility of introducing paid subscriptions for Twitter, with reports from November 2022 also alluding to his consideration of such a model.
