X started a $20 monthly subscription

X, formerly Twitter, launched two new subscriptions on Friday, exactly a year after Elon Musk bought the social network ($61 billion), now in financial trouble.

Users can now choose between three plans: Basic, Premium (formerly “Blue”) and Premium+, for $4, $11 and $20 per month, respectively.

In addition to the benefits included in the Premium plan, Premium+ subscribers benefit from better exposure to their messages (higher chance of reading and generating reactions) and no longer see ads.

As for the cheapest option, it includes basic editing tools (the ability to edit a message or publish long videos) and two-factor authentication, but does not include access to tools for creators (which allows you to pay) or verification. An account with a famous blue checkmark.

Blue Subscription, launched chaotically in the months following the company’s takeover by Tesla’s boss, was intended to diversify revenue streams and democratize the user verification system.

The blue check mark, which was previously free but reserved for authenticated and well-known accounts, is paid but available to everyone.

Between this practice and the sharp reduction in content control, the platform has become increasingly confusing, with many verified fake accounts spreading misinformation or rumours.

Many advertisers have abandoned X. Its value has fallen to $28 billion, according to Elon Musk, and advertising revenue has halved.

And the network pays everyone: in New Zealand and the Philippines, new users already pay a dollar each year to post messages.

The idea is to block registrations from “robots,” such as these automated accounts used to artificially amplify political messages.

The billionaire hopes to turn the platform into a universal application based on China’s WeChat model, serving as both a messaging service and an online payment service.

He started testing adding a tool to make audio and video calls directly from X.

On Friday he wrote “Freedom” on his profile, republishing his message from a year ago after the purchase: “The bird is free,” referring to the blue bird on Twitter, now gone.