X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, is set to introduce two new subscription tiers, as announced by its owner, Elon Musk, on Friday.
One of these tiers will offer a “lower cost with all features, but without ad reduction,” while the other will be “more expensive but ad-free,” according to Musk.
Earlier this week, X revealed plans to initiate a test in New Zealand and the Philippines, where users will be charged $1 annually to “post and interact with other posts.” This initiative is part of X’s effort to combat spam and bot activity, and users who opt out will only be able to read posts.
It remains uncertain whether the $1 annual subscription is one of the two new tiers Musk mentioned.
X already provides a $8 per month subscription service known as X Premium, which offers users the coveted blue checkmark to verify their accounts and provides additional features, including the ability to edit posts.
Since taking control of Twitter in October 2022 and rebranding it as X, Musk has implemented substantial changes, including staff reductions in trust and safety teams and the removal of blue checkmarks from nonpaying accounts. The blue checkmark had previously helped users identify genuine accounts belonging to public figures. Musk has also reinstated accounts that were previously banned from the platform.
These alterations have prompted concerns among advertisers. In July, Musk disclosed that X’s cash flow had turned negative due to a nearly 50% decline in advertising revenue combined with a substantial debt burden.
The introduction of new subscription options may represent an effort to enhance the company’s financial situation and explore new revenue streams.
X faces competition from newer entrants like Meta’s Threads and Bluesky.
