UNITED STATES: Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), announced on Friday the imminent launch of two distinct tiers of premium subscriptions.
Musk, who assumed control of the platform in October 2022, is taking significant steps to bolster revenue streams after a tumultuous period marked by layoffs and the dissolution of content moderation teams.
The first tier offers users a lower-cost subscription with access to all features but retains ad displays. The second, pricier option provides an ad-free experience for subscribers.
While specific details about the subscription plans were not divulged, a recent test case in New Zealand and the Philippines imposed restrictions on non-subscribers, limiting them to “read-only” actions such as viewing posts, watching videos, and following accounts.
This initiative, dubbed the “Not a Bot” subscription model, aims to combat spam, manipulation, and bot activity on the platform. Musk acknowledges that the platform’s revenue has suffered, attributing this to pressure from activists on advertisers.
Similar to other major tech platforms, such as YouTube and Netflix, X is exploring a hybrid approach, offering both ad-supported and subscription-based models.
While YouTube shares a portion of its subscription revenue with content creators, it remains undisclosed whether content creators on X will be compensated in the ad-free subscription models.
Musk previously introduced the blue check subscription service at $8 per month, along with discounted advertising rates for companies. However, criticisms over lax content moderation led to advertisers becoming apprehensive about their ads appearing alongside inappropriate content.
Recent scrutiny of X by the European Commission underscores the challenges faced by the platform. The investigation aims to assess its compliance with new tech regulations concerning illegal and harmful content, particularly in the wake of disinformation surrounding Hamas’ attack on Israel.
With these new premium subscriptions, X is poised to chart a fresh course in the realm of social media, offering users greater customization and advertisers a more controlled environment for their content. The success of this endeavour could very well shape the future of online interaction.
Also Read: EU Issues Warning to Elon Musk Following High Disinformation Rates on Twitter
