Elon Musk announces that X (FKA Twitter) will have to go behind a paywall for all users

Elon Musk has said that X, formerly known as Twitter, will likely start charging its users.

The X boss, who is also the founder/CEO of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, said in a new meeting that the social media platform is considering creating a paywall.

Although it has not been confirmed, Musk told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting this week that a subscription for users would likely cost “a few dollars” per month. [via The Guardian],

Currently, X charges users for its subscription service X Premium which offers benefits like verified account checkmark. It costs $11 (£8.87) per month for iPhone in the US and £11 per month in the UK.

Musk explained that the paywall would help businesses keep out bots and offset losses that had resulted from a “60 percent” decline in advertising revenue on the platform.

Elon Musk. Credit: Chesnaught/Getty

“We are moving toward making a small monthly payment for use of the system,” Musk told Netanyahu, whom he met to discuss technology and artificial intelligence.

Musk said that bots cost “a fraction of a penny” to install and then prevent operators of the software from charging users “a few dollars or something.” “Plus, every time a bot creator wanted to create another bot, they would need another new payment method,” he said.

The owner of

Musk’s conversation with Netanyahu turned to free speech and anti-Semitism amid claims that X was not doing enough to tackle racist speech on the platform.

Netanyahu said he expected Musk to use elements of the US First Amendment to suppress anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred at X.

“I encourage you and urge you to find a balance,” Netanyahu said. “This is difficult.”

Musk has Tweeted on X earlier To state that he is “pro-free speech” but “against any form of anti-Semitism”.

Source: www.nme.com