X Ponders Monthly Fee to Combat Bots

Elon Musk has stated that X, formerly known as Twitter, is contemplating having its users pay a “small monthly payment” to access the social media platform.

On Monday, Musk shared these remarks during a livestreamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about artificial intelligence, suggesting the fee would be intended to deter bots from X.

“It’s the only way I can think of to combat vast armies of bots,” he said.

He also mentioned that X boasts 550 million monthly users who generate between 100 and 200 million posts daily. However, he didn’t specify if he was including bots in that number.

Elon Musk Considers “Small Monthly Payment” for X Users

The meeting with Netanyahu comes weeks after Musk mentioned he might sue the Anti-Defamation League for allegedly accusing X and him of antisemitism, leading to an exodus of advertisers from the social network.

The ADL highlighted a spike in bullying and antisemitic posts on X following the billionaire’s acquisition of the social network last year. On Monday, Musk stated he opposes “attacking any group.”

“Obviously, I’m against antisemitism,” he expressed. “I’m against anti-really anything that promotes hate and conflict.”

Is Elon Musk Charging for Twitter?

Musk did not provide details on the potential cost to use X but indicated it would be a “small amount of money.”

“We’re actually going to come up with a lower tier pricing… This is a longer discussion, but in my view, this is actually the only defense against vast armies of bots,” he elaborated.

Currently, X offers a premium subscription service where it charges users for specific features, including the ability to edit a post and having prioritized rankings in conversations and search. Pricing for this service starts at $8 a month.

With information from CBS News