Elon Musk Explores $1-per-Year Subscription Plan for All X Users: Details Revealed

Elon Musk, the chairman of X (formerly Twitter), is testing a new subscription plan that will require all users who want to post on the platform to pay a small fee of $1 per year. This is in contrast to the current premium subscription plan, X Pro, which is optional.

Musk has said that the new subscription plan is necessary to combat bots and spam on the platform. He believes that charging a nominal fee will make it more difficult for bots to create accounts and post spam content.

The new subscription plan is currently being tested in New Zealand and the Philippines. If it is successful, it is likely to be rolled out to other countries in the future.

Users who do not pay the $1 per year subscription fee will still be able to access their profile and view other users' posts. However, they will be restricted in terms of posting, liking, replying, and bookmarking content.

Elon Musk's Vision:

Elon Musk, a driving force behind X's innovative approaches, believes that a minimal charge can serve as a deterrent to spam and automated bot accounts. Musk expressed this vision in a post on X, stating, "Read for free, but $1/year to write. It’s the only way to fight bots without blocking real users. This won’t stop bots completely, but it will be 1000X harder to manipulate the platform."

"Not a Bot" Test and User Impact:

The ongoing trial, labeled "Not a Bot," allows users to retain access to their profiles even if they opt not to pay the nominal fee. However, non-subscribers will face restrictions on activities such as posting, liking, replying, or bookmarking. Nevertheless, there will be no impediment to observing other posts on the platform.

Subscription Justification by X:

X has termed this experiment as a measure to combat bots and spammers while maintaining platform accessibility with a modest fee. In a blog post, X justified the subscription charge, stating, "This will evaluate a potentially powerful measure to help us combat bots and spammers on X, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount." Existing users are assured that they won't be affected during this testing phase.

Monetization Strategies and Premium Plans:

Facing financial challenges, X, under Elon Musk's leadership, is actively seeking new avenues for revenue. The company's debt of $13 billion and the loss of advertisers due to content safety rule changes have accelerated this pursuit.

X has recently revamped its premium subscription plan, X Pro, priced at Rs 650 in India and Rs 900 for Android and iOS users. While the 'Not a Bot' plan's pricing on App Store or Play Store remains undisclosed, existing premium plan subscribers are exempt from the additional $1-a-year fee.

Future Revenue Streams: In an effort to diversify revenue streams, X is contemplating three levels of its premium service and introducing features like shopping and payments, as disclosed by Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, in a meeting with bankers. This strategic approach aligns with X's goal to generate additional income and alleviate the annual interest payment burden.