Elon Musk says that very soon, everyone who intends to use X, will have to pay

In a recent live-streamed event on his social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, Elon Musk announced plans to introduce a monthly fee for all users, a significant departure from the platform's current free-to-use model. Accoridng to a report from Axios, this move comes as X grapples with a decline in advertiser trust and a sharp drop in ad revenue.

Musk had previously revealed that Twitter's U.S. ad revenue had experienced a steep 60% decline, attributing the company's ad challenges to the pressure exerted by civil rights and consumer groups on major brands. During the live conversation on X with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the topic of combating the proliferation of bot-driven hate speech emerged.

What is Musk's justification?

In response to Netanyahu's concerns about curbing large armies of bots that amplify hate speech, Musk unveiled his rationale for introducing a monthly subscription fee. He stated, "The single-most important reason we're moving to having a small monthly payment for use of the X system is it's the only way I can think of to combat vast armies of bots."

Musk elaborated on his strategy, explaining that implementing a subscription fee would create a barrier for bots, as each bot would require a unique credit card for registration. He hinted that the company intends to offer a "lower tier pricing" compared to its current X Premium subscription, which costs around $8 per month.

However, it's worth noting that Musk has a history of teasing new products or innovations, often changing course later on. This announcement adds to the list of Musk's ambitious ventures, raising questions about its long-term viability.

Few social media platforms charge subscription fee

The broader context reveals that while some social networks have experimented with subscription-based features, few operate on a subscription-only basis. X had previously introduced Twitter Blue, later rebranded as X Premium, as a subscription product. However, data showed slow adoption rates, with estimates indicating that around 640,000 to 680,000 people had subscribed to Twitter Blue by April.

Notably, Musk's overhaul of the subscription service last November included changes to Twitter's verification system, restricting verification to paid subscribers. As X moves forward with its plan to introduce a monthly fee for users, the social media landscape may witness a significant shift in the dynamics of online interaction and monetization.