Elon Musk is once again raising the idea that X (formerly Twitter) may no longer remain a free platform. While this isn’t the first time the billionaire has discussed such a move, his recent comments suggest the idea is still very much on the table.
Musk originally introduced the concept a while ago during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where he floated the possibility of charging a small monthly fee to all users of X. The goal? To combat the growing problem of bots and fake accounts that have plagued the platform.
“The only way I can think of to fight off armies of bots is to introduce a small monthly payment,” Musk said during his previous discussion with Netanyahu, held in the San Francisco Bay Area.
At that time, the conversation also touched on topics like artificial intelligence, antisemitism, and judicial reforms in Israel. But it was Musk’s suggestion of a universal fee that sparked widespread attention.
Now, Musk appears to be revisiting the idea more seriously.
He emphasized that while creating bots in bulk is cheap, forcing bot operators to pay—even a minimal fee—makes the process much more expensive and difficult to scale.
“If each bot needs a new payment method every month, it becomes a logistical nightmare,” Musk previously explained, pointing out the limitations even on the dark web when it comes to finding enough unique credit cards.
While Musk has yet to set a timeline for implementing this change, the idea aligns with his broader push toward monetization. Since acquiring Twitter in 2022, Musk has launched X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue), offering perks like editing posts, longer tweets, and fewer ads—all for $8 per month or $84 annually.
With Musk now reigniting the discussion, many wonder if free access to X is truly on its way out.