Elon Musk considering charging users ‘small monthly payment’ to use his social media site as Twitter rebrand continues
Billionaire Elon Musk is considering charging people to use his social media site as his Twitter overhaul continues.
The website and app, following its rebrand in July, the name
2
2
He said it was “the only way to combat massive armies of bots.”
Mr. Musk has waged a war against fake accounts – so-called bots – that spam regular users, and before buying the site even accused Twitter’s board of inflating its user numbers because of its failure to keep fake accounts under control.
But experts say the monthly fee could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many users upset by the many changes to the site since the billionaire bought it.
Some people often celebrate crazy viral posts with exclamations like “I can’t believe this site is free.”
Musk has already introduced a £9.60 monthly fee for users who want to get “verified” with blue ticks on their accounts.
The move caused celebrities, news publishers, government agencies and authorities to lose their free blue checkmarks, which typically indicated an authentic account and directed users to legitimate sources of information.
But some supporters of Musk’s tactics say they use X more regularly than other subscription services they pay for.
Musk bought Twitter for £38bn last year, but he now estimates it is worth £20bn.
He revealed his plans in a technology conversation with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
The tech entrepreneur told the Prime Minister: “We are moving to receiving a small monthly payment for using the system.”