Musk alluded to this chance in an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, although he didn’t outright say that that is going to occur.

In response to a query about combating bots, Musk mentioned that:

“The only most necessary cause that we’re shifting to having a small month-to-month cost to be used of the X system is that it’s the one means I can consider to fight huge armies of bots. As a result of a bot prices a fraction of a penny, or a tenth of a penny, but when any person even has to pay a number of {dollars} or one thing, some minor quantity, the efficient price of bots could be very excessive, and then you definitely additionally should get a brand new cost technique each time you could have a brand new bot.”

Musk additionally mentioned that X would quickly supply a less expensive model of its X Premium subscription providing, and together, many have taken these remarks as Musk pointing to a brand new subscriptions push on the app, which is able to finally see all customers compelled to pay up in the event that they wish to hold utilizing it.

Which, once more, isn’t precisely what Elon mentioned. Although he has additionally pointed to this a number of instances previously.

Again in March, Musk posted that, finally, in his view, “paid account social media would be the solely social media that issues”. That was additionally in relation to a dialogue about bots, and Musk’s view that generative AI will make it a lot simpler for spammers and scammers to create bot armies.

Even sooner than that, in February, Musk remarked that it was “inevitable” that each one social platforms would transfer to subscription choices, whereas in November final yr, shortly after Musk took possession of the app, Platformer reported that Musk had truly held inner discussions about paywalling the platform fully.

“One such plan may enable everybody to make use of Twitter for a restricted period of time every month however require a subscription to proceed shopping, the individual mentioned.”

So whereas it could appear to be individuals are studying somewhat an excessive amount of into Musk’s feedback this week, the proposal has been floating round for a while, as Elon and Co. look to deal with the platform’s bot issues, whereas additionally lowering its reliance on advert income, which stays properly down on pre-sale ranges.

So may a full X paywall be sensible?

Customers are clear of their opposition to the plan, with a ballot we performed with our viewers on LinkedIn (1,945 responses) indicating that 96% of individuals wouldn’t pay to maintain utilizing the app.

Be aware the ultimate choice right here. X just lately launched a brand new pilot program round voluntary ID affirmation, in partnership with “forensic identification intelligence” firm au10tix, which is able to see X outsource a number of the guide workload round ID affirmation to a 3rd occasion. That might allow X to implement broader identification verification into its system, and perhaps, via this, and by way of further third-party partnerships, that might be one other means for X to stamp out bots, although it would additionally have to pay its companions for such.

Possibly that is the place X’s cheaper verification providing will are available in, with customers paying to basically verify their actual identification, which might nonetheless usher in some cash for X, whereas additionally serving to with the bot problem.

Although because the ballot suggests, even that may be a tough promote, and it’ll be fascinating to see whether or not X is definitely in a position to get extra individuals to pay, and the way they could incentivize them to take action.

X Premium continues to see very low take-up, regardless of now providing subscribers the chance to receives a commission for his or her posts within the app. Primarily based on the most recent analysis from Travis Brown, who’s been monitoring X Premium (previously Twitter Blue) takeup, there are at the moment round 1.1 million subscribers to this system, a quantity that has grown over time, however nonetheless represents fewer than 0.5% of all X customers.

A part of the issue right here is that, by X’s personal admission, round 80% of the platform’s customers by no means publish to the app, they only learn the posts of their timeline. As such, a lot of the add-ons within the X Premium package deal are usually not of a lot worth, and it’s onerous to see how X can get extra individuals to pay to make use of the app once they solely come to learn content material.

Which, once more, factors to limiting entry, doubtlessly behind a paywall.

It will not be in style, but it surely might be the one approach to get extra individuals to enroll, whereas additionally connecting their cost particulars into X, one other key step on this course of.

If Elon needs individuals conducting a broader vary of actions within the app, funds are a key ingredient, and as such, linking a cost choice into X could be a major step inside itself, other than the income concerns.

So there are a number of causes that time to X doubtlessly limiting entry to non-paying customers. It could be a giant danger, which might be the start of the tip for the app. However actually, even when a comparatively small quantity of customers pay, that might nonetheless be a pathway to constructing a extra viable enterprise.

It could be an excessive step, and one which I’m nonetheless not satisfied that X would take, whereas it will additionally amplify the chance for rivals (notice: Bluesky noticed a surge in sign-ups yesterday after Elon’s interview).

But when Elon actually believes that paid social is the one means ahead, and that his “all the pieces app” imaginative and prescient is feasible, perhaps this might truly occur.

And that will actually take a look at individuals’s dedication to his X imaginative and prescient.