Elon Musk’s X launches two new premium subscription plans

WEB DESK: Elon Musk revealed on Friday that the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is set to introduce two new premium subscription options.

In a post on X, Musk explained, “One is a lower-cost tier that includes all features but maintains advertising, while the other, a pricier option, offers an ad-free experience.”

Musk, who assumed control of the platform in October 2022, has been working to increase revenue by charging users and enticing advertisers back. Many advertisers had withdrawn their support when Musk terminated most employees and disbanded content moderation teams.

Musk has attributed the platform’s revenue decline to activist pressure.

Although Musk didn’t provide detailed information about the subscription plans, a recent test run by X imposed certain restrictions on users who opt not to subscribe.

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As part of the trial, new users in New Zealand and the Philippines were required to pay $1 to access the platform. Those who chose not to subscribe were limited to “read-only” actions, which include reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts, according to the company’s website.

X’s “Not A Bot” subscription method aims to combat spam, platform manipulation, and bot activity.

Several major tech companies, such as Alphabet’s YouTube and Netflix, have explored a mix of ad-supported and subscription-based models. YouTube, similar to X in terms of user-generated content, shares a portion of its subscription revenue with creators.

However, X did not disclose whether content creators would be compensated under the ad-free subscription models.

In a bid to generate revenue, Musk introduced an $8 per month blue check subscription service and extended discounts to companies for advertising on the platform. Nevertheless, concerns about lax content moderation led to advertisers hesitating to place their ads alongside inappropriate content.

Recently, the European Commission initiated an investigation into X to assess its compliance with new tech regulations regarding illegal and harmful content, following the spread of disinformation on the platform during the conflict between Hamas and Israel.