In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk proposed a new subscription model for X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Under this model, users would be required to pay a small monthly fee to access the platform.
Musk’s rationale for this shift is to combat the pervasive issue of bots on X. Bots are automated accounts that are often used to spread misinformation, spam, and engage in other forms of malicious activity. Musk believes that charging a fee would create a disincentive for bot operators, making it more difficult and costly for them to create and maintain large bot networks.
The proposed subscription model has raised concerns among some users, who worry that it could make X less accessible to people who cannot afford to pay. However, Musk has assured users that he is committed to making the platform affordable for everyone, and that he is considering offering different pricing tiers to accommodate different budgets.
The introduction of a subscription model would represent a significant change for X, which has traditionally relied on advertising revenue. However, Musk has said that he believes that a subscription model would be more sustainable in the long term, as it would reduce the platform’s dependence on advertising.
In addition to discussing the proposed subscription model, Musk and Netanyahu also discussed the issue of combating antisemitism on X. Netanyahu urged Musk to take steps to address this issue, while still respecting the First Amendment right to free speech.
Musk has said that he is committed to combating antisemitism on X, and that he is working on developing new policies and tools to do so. However, he has also acknowledged the challenges of balancing free speech and content moderation, and has said that there is no easy solution.
The sources for this piece include an article in BBC.