Elon Musk threatens to charge all users of X social platform
Technology mogul Elon Musk has suggested all users of the X social media platform, formerly called Twitter, may have to pay for access to the service.
The billionaire said the only way to combat bots, or autonomous software applications, was to introduce some sort of payment system, the BBC reports.
Musk was speaking in California during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We’re moving to having a small monthly payment for use of the system,” Musk said.
He has long maintained charging for verification is the most effective solution for making the social media platform free from bots and fake accounts.
Since Musk gained control of Twitter last year, he has explored ways of encouraging users to pay for extra features on what is now called X Premium.
They include offering paid subscribers longer posts and higher profiles on the platform.
But X remains free for users.
In Australia, XPremium costs $19 per month. The price differs depending on which nation a subscriber is in.
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Musk, the world’s richest person, said the company was investigating cheaper options for users.
But there is a risk that by installing X behind a paywall it may lose many users.
That brings the potential of lower advertising revenue, which accounts for the biggest share of the company’s income.
Netanyahu called on Musk to “roll back” antisemitism on X, during the in-person conversation broadcast live on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
