Highlights
1) X Premium, formerly known as Twitter Blue, will offer two new subscription tiers. One will cost less than the current plan and the other will cost more.
2) The cheaper tier will offer the same set of features as the current plan but will not reduce ads, while the pricier tier will completely remove ads from the platform.
3) X is exploring ways to reduce bot accounts and increase revenue streams, including charging new users an annual fee for full platform access.
4) Musk, the owner of X, has hinted at making it a fully paid social media service and may be gauging user willingness to pay for additional features.
X Premium Introduces New Subscription Tiers
Company owner Elon Musk has announced that X Premium, formerly known as Twitter Blue, will soon have two new subscription tiers. While Musk did not provide specific pricing details or a launch date, he mentioned that one tier will be cheaper than the current plan while the other will be more expensive.
Changes to Twitter under Musk’s Ownership
Since Elon Musk took over Twitter a year ago, he has made several changes to the platform. One notable change was the rebranding of the platform as X, and the introduction of the verification tick as part of the Premium/Blue subscription. X Premium, priced at $8 a month or $84 a year ($11 monthly and $115 annually for iOS and Android app subscribers), offers benefits such as reduced ads, longer posts, edit/undo options, longer videos, access to X Pro (Tweetdeck), and more.
New Subscription Tiers Being Prepared
According to Musk, X Premium will soon offer two new subscription tiers. The cheaper tier will include the same set of features but will not reduce ads. The current plan reduces the number of ads by 50%. On the other hand, the pricier tier will completely remove ads from the platform. Musk did not mention if this tier will come with additional features.
Timing and Future Plans
Musk did not provide a clear timeline for the rollout of the new subscription tiers. However, he is known for making changes quickly, so the wait may not be long. In the past, he has hinted at the possibility of X becoming a fully paid social media service, and these new subscription tiers could be a step in that direction. The company may be gauging user willingness to pay for additional features. X has already started charging an annual fee to new users.
Charging New Users for Full Access
X is exploring different methods to reduce bot accounts and increase revenue streams. As part of these efforts, the company recently implemented an annual fee for new users to have full access to the platform. Known as the “Not A Bot” program, it is currently available in New Zealand and the Philippines, costing NZD 1.43 and PHP 42.51 ($1 equivalent) per year in the respective countries. X believes this program will enhance its efforts to combat spam, manipulation, and bot activity. Non-paying users and those who don’t subscribe to X Premium/Verified Organizations can only perform “read-only” actions like reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts. The expansion of this program to other markets has not been detailed by X.
