In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 18, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, revealed that his platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), is contemplating the introduction of a monthly payment system to combat the proliferation of bots on the platform. The move aims to address the pervasive issue of automated accounts spreading misinformation and spam.
Musk articulated his thoughts on the matter, stating, "It's the only way I can think of to combat vast armies of bots." He elaborated further, explaining that while the cost to operate a bot is minuscule, often just a fraction of a penny, imposing even a small monthly fee would substantially increase the effective cost of deploying bots. Under this proposed system, bot creators would be required to associate an additional payment method with each bot, adding an extra layer of accountability.
While Musk did not specify the exact amount of the proposed monthly fee, he described it as a "small amount of money." The primary objective is to deter the rampant use of bots on the platform and create a more authentic and engaging user experience.
The discussion surrounding the implementation of a monthly use fee emerged during a live-streamed conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu when the topic of combating antisemitism on the platform was raised. Musk has been vocal about his commitment to making X a safer and more responsible social media platform since acquiring it last year.
Monetization has been a central focus of Musk's agenda for X. The platform recently introduced X Premium, formerly known as Twitter Blue, priced at $8 per month. This premium subscription offers users various features, including a coveted blue checkmark, the ability to edit posts, and prioritized rankings in conversations and searches, among other benefits. Additionally, TweetDeck, a once-free Twitter management application, transitioned into XPro and began charging users in August.
Elon Musk has proposed several other changes to X, some of which have sparked controversy. Notably, he suggested removing the "block" feature, a move that raised concerns about potential violations of Apple's App Store policy. Musk tweeted, "Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature,’ except for DMs," but later clarified, "You will still be able to mute accounts and block users for DMs."
Musk has also explored the idea of purging inactive users and implementing "temporary limits" for reading tweets in an effort to reshape the platform and enhance user engagement.
As Elon Musk continues to reshape X, these potential changes, including the introduction of a monthly fee to combat bots, demonstrate his commitment to addressing longstanding issues on the platform and redefining the future of social media. Users and stakeholders will closely watch how these changes impact the X community and its broader user base.
