Musk announces premium subscriptions on X
X unveiled a budget-friendly plan with full features and ads, alongside a premium, ad-free option without disclosing subscription specifics.
Elon Musk announced that the social media platform X will soon introduce two new premium subscription options. One will be a lower-cost subscription with all features but no reduction in ads, while the other will be more expensive but completely ad-free. However, Musk did not provide specific details about these subscription plans.
Earlier this week, the platform began testing a $1 charge for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines. This change called the ‘Not A Bot’ subscription method, was presented as an effort to combat spam, manipulation, and bot activity on the platform.
Why does it matter?
Elon Musk’s changes to the platform since his takeover in October 2022, which included layoffs and content moderation team reductions, caused a drop in revenue as advertisers halted their ads, with Musk citing activist pressure as a contributing factor. Earlier this year, Musk introduced a Twitter Blue subscription service for $8 per month, featuring a blue checkmark, which experts speculate may have attracted imposters spreading misinformation. It made efforts to attract advertisers back with discounts. These plans announced today are another effort to restore the company’s revenue.
About author
DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.