Musk surprises again: dates will disappear on the X platform, and registration will become paid
Elon Musk continues to experiment with Platform X (formerly known as Twitter). This time he has taken on dates in posts, which may disappear from the general feed. Along with this, it is planned to introduce a one-time fee of $8 to register new users, which has already caused an active discussion in the network.
Here's What We Know
According to the leaks, Musk believes that removing dates will improve the visual experience of the feed. Dates will still be visible if you open a specific post, but they will disappear in the feed. This, he says, will "free the interface from unnecessary information." However, many users and experts have criticised the move, fearing it will make it harder to determine whether information is up to date.
In addition, newcomers to the platform will be required to pay $8 to register, and this amount includes a one-month subscription to X Premium. Such a step is aimed at fighting bots and at the same time to increase the revenues of the platform. As a reminder, the platform's advertising revenue has dropped significantly since it was acquired by Musk in 2022 for $44 billion.
Previously, X was testing a $1 access fee in New Zealand and the Philippines. But the new $8 price looks like a more serious measure aimed at both financial stabilisation and filtering out fake accounts.
Context
Since buying Twitter, Musk has introduced a host of changes, including staff cuts and relaxed content moderation. This has led to a mass exodus of large advertisers and a decline in the company's revenue. New initiatives with pay-per-registration and visual changes could both revitalise the platform and alienate some users. The only question is whether Musk's experiment will turn out to be a success or a failure.
Source: FORTUNE
