Elon Musk Considers Charging All X Users a Fee for Platform
Elon Musk is considering a significant change for X, previously known as Twitter. He’s considering introducing a monthly subscription fee for all users. During an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Musk, the owner of X, mentioned that he is exploring the possibility of implementing “lower-tier pricing” for all users. He explained that this potential change addresses the challenges posed by large groups of automated bots on the platform.
“Lower-Tier Pricing” on X
Musk stated that X intends to introduce a “lower-tier pricing” option that would be designed to be more cost-effective than the current subscription fee for existing X premium subscribers. However, he didn’t provide specific details regarding the pricing structure. He mentioned that adding a subscription would make it much more difficult for automated bots to create accounts because each bot would need to register a new credit card.
As of now, X already charges a monthly fee of $8 for users who have been verified. This subscription includes the verified checkmark and provides access to special features, such as the ability to edit posts. For organizations, a verified subscription on X costs $1,000 per month, with an additional $50 per month for each affiliated account.
Musk also provided specific data about X, reporting that it currently has 550 million monthly users who collectively generate between 100 to 200 million posts daily. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain what proportion of these users are humans instead of automated bots.
While the primary focus of Musk’s discussion with Netanyahu was the regulation of AI, Musk also took the opportunity to address claims that his platform tolerates hate speech and antisemitism. He insisted that hate speech and misinformation have decreased on the platform since he took over. Many organizations dispute his claims. In December 2022, Media Matters for America, a non-profit research and information center, reported that anti-LGBTQ hate has increased on Twitter since Musk officially acquired the company.
On July 22, 2023, Twitter changed its name to X. Musk, the owner of X, said on the platform that the name change reflects the platform’s shift towards being an “everything app.” Musk emphasized that it’s not just a name change but a significant change in the platform’s purpose.
Watch the interview here.
Twitter's 'X' Rebrand Sparks Hilarious Reactions
Elon Musk has dramatically revealed a brand makeover for Twitter — he’s now calling it “X” — and the reactions are pouring in. Musk has decided to discard the familiar name and the instantly recognizable bird logo.
Although the site has seen design alterations before (initially appearing as ‘Twittr’), the bird graphic became the logo of the company since its introduction in 2010. And “tweeting” and “retweet” became part of our everyday language that was specific to the platform.
Musk surprised everyone with his announcement on Sunday, and by Monday morning, he tweeted that X.com now redirects to Twitter.com. He followed up with, “Interim X logo goes live later today,” and not long after, he posted a picture of Twitter’s headquarters illuminated with a massive new X.
The Twitter website has now adopted the new logo, leaving behind the familiar blue bird. In a previous statement, Musk expressed his intention to bid farewell to the Twitter brand and gradually eliminate all bird-related elements.
Twitter has prominently featured its vibrant and globally recognized blue bird logo for over a decade. The rebranding can be seen as a significant attempt to revamp the company’s image. In recent months, Musk has been warning about Twitter’s precarious financial situation, with steep losses in ad revenue and concerns about potential bankruptcy.
Adding to the pressure, Threads, a rival social media platform launched by Meta, Facebook’s parent company, garnered over 100 million user sign-ups within its first week, posing further competition to Twitter.
On Sunday, Twitter’s CEO Linda Yaccarino shared on the platform: “X represents the future state of limitless interactivity – focusing on audio, video, messaging, payments/banking – building a worldwide marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. Fueled by AI, X will connect us all in ways we’re only just starting to envision.”
Despite Yaccarino’s announcement, many users have taken to mocking the statement and questioning the motive behind the rebrand. Others suggested the “X” was a bad idea. “Imagine explaining to your wife that you watched some Xvideos today,” wrote a user.
As soon as Twitter turned into X, people didn’t waste a second and began cracking jokes about the whole transformation.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
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