Elon Musk speculates about the possibility of putting social media platform X behind a paywall

Elon Musk has suggested that users may have to pay for access to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in order to counter bots. The billionaire mentioned this in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that a payment system is the only way to tackle the issue. Musk expressed his view of a small monthly fee for system usage. X has not provided any further details when approached by the BBC, and it remains uncertain whether this was a spontaneous comment or an indication of upcoming plans. Musk has consistently advocated for charging for verification as a solution to eliminate bots and fake accounts. In an attempt to incentivize users to pay for an enhanced service called X Premium, Musk has provided additional features such as longer posts and increased visibility. However, users can still currently access X for free. Despite the company's financial interest in charging users, Musk stated that the primary aim of having people pay for the service is to combat bots. Musk emphasized that even a minor payment would significantly increase the cost for bots, which are inexpensive to create. The current price of X Premium is $8 a month in the US, but Musk is considering lower-priced options for users. He believes that this payment system is the only effective defense against large numbers of bots. Nevertheless, putting X behind a paywall may result in a substantial loss of users and potentially decrease advertising revenue, which currently contributes significantly to the company's income. Musk's conversation with the Israeli prime minister also addressed the issue of antisemitism on X. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has accused the platform of not adequately addressing antisemitic content. The ADL claimed that Musk was "engaging with and elevating" antisemites. Musk recently announced that the company would sue the ADL to protect its platform's reputation. In his conversation with Mr. Netanyahu, Musk reiterated his stance against antisemitism, and the prime minister acknowledged the challenge of finding a balance between free speech and content moderation, urging Musk to strike that balance correctly.