X, which is seen as a stage for freedom of expression, might not be free of cost anymore.
Ever since Elon Musk took over Twitter and renamed it X, a lot of news, mostly controversial, has been coming our way from the former bluebird. The first that I can recall is when X took away people’s blue ticks and asked them to pay a subscription for the same. Now, another weird move has been made by X. It can soon start a new subscription model, demanding money from its users for liking, posting, and replying to tweets.
What is X (formerly Twitter) planning?
X, which is seen as a stage for freedom of expression, might not be free of cost anymore. This was further confirmed by the person at the top, Elon Musk. He says that his social media platform will soon start levying a small fee for liking, posting, replying, and even bookmarking tweets. This will be a yearly charge that users will have to pay to access all the features on the platform.
Also read: Made a new X (Twitter) account? Here’s how to get started
Why the subscription model?
The reasoning that X and Musk have given for this move is that they wish to curb fake or bot accounts on the platform, and this is the only way to maintain authenticity. Speaking about this, Elon Musk said, “Unfortunately, a small fee for new user writing access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots. Current AI (and troll farms) can pass “Are you a bot” with ease.” He also said that these fake accounts take up the available namespaces and most good handles are gone.
How much will it cost?
The subscription model was being tested in New Zealand and the Philippines and will be rolled out to other places soon. It costs around $1 currently in these two places.
This move sounds pretty absurd to me, and many other media fellows who rely heavily on social media platforms such as X.
Follow Us
Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is new on the block and is a tech geek who is currently working with Digit as a News Writer. He tests the new gadgets that come on board and writes for the news desk. He has found his way with words and you can count on him when in need of tech advice. No judgement. He is based out of Delhi, he’s your person for good photos, good food recommendations, and to know about anything GenZ. View Full Profile
