X, formerly Twitter, has experienced many changes since its buyout in 2022. One of the most significant is the need for X users to pay for verification and premium features. Unfortunately, users may start paying to use the platform if Musk implements the Twitter paywall.
In a conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister in 2023, Elon Musk suggested that Twitter may go behind a paywall. That would mean charging users monthly for using the platform. But what is the rationale for this drastic change? And has X implemented the paywall? Read on to find the answers!
What Is the Paywall on X?
A paywall is an arrangement where only paid subscribers can access a website. Therefore, the paywall Twitter feature allows only paying users to access and use the X platform.
Twitter’s owner, Elon Musk, hinted at the possible implementation of a paywall on the platform sometime last year.
However, Twitter, now X, has not yet released an official statement about this issue. The platform has remained silent on this matter, even when asked about it by top media firms like the BBC.
Why Did Musk Suggest a Paywall for Twitter?
The Twitter boss suggested a paywall to remove the vast armies of bots and fake accounts on X. He analyzed that bots cost almost nothing, hence their widespread and continued use. But if you had to subscribe monthly for their use on the platform, it’d be too expensive to run.
Musk also clarified that this was his opinion and that the company would have longer discussions about this issue.
Although this seems logical, many believe there is more behind the curtain. X has an obvious financial interest in charging users to use the platform. Since the buyout and takeover, Twitter has experienced a steep revenue decline.
Moreover, Musk still has to repay the debts used to buy Twitter. Therefore, it is reasonable to explore all avenues to increase revenue streams from the platform.
Already, Musk is taking steps to make money from X by charging new users in the Philippines and New Zealand $1 to join Twitter, according to Business Insider.
Will Twitter Implement the Paywall?
It is yet unclear whether Twitter will implement a paywall for all tweeps. Twitter has still not made a formal statement or announcement about a paywall for all users. However, there are many reasons to believe that it can happen.
For example, Twitter urgently needs to increase its revenue to stay afloat and avoid bankruptcy. A paywall is an effective way to generate a strong revenue stream.
Also, Musk is notorious for having his way. There are very few things he has said that he hasn’t achieved. With his level of control over the current X board, it is only a matter of time before Twitter fulfills his desires.
Additionally, X has already implemented the API paywall for developers and a reading paywall for users. Thus, it is only a matter of time before Twitter extends the paywall feature to all users.
Nevertheless, Twitter will lose a healthy percentage of users to a paywall. This loss could cause a decline in Twitter ad revenue, which currently accounts for a good percentage of X’s income.
Therefore, Twitter must consider the gains and losses of this action before implementing a paywall for the platform.
Understanding the Twitter API Paywall
Have you ever wondered how third-party Twitter apps work? You can use these apps to browse and modify Twitter. But what makes that possible?
These sites use Twitter’s Application Programming Interface (API) to perform their functions. Twitter API lets developers access Twitter’s data, allowing you to view and modify X from their platforms.
For many years, anyone could freely access and use Twitter’s API. However, on February 9, 2023, X administrators implemented a paywall to restrict free access to the Twitter API. Now, there’s a paid basic tier for anyone seeking Twitter’s API and data.
Nevertheless, the Twitter API paywall does not affect everyone. On May 2, 2023, X announced that public service organizations could continue to access X’s API for free. These include government or publicly-owned services that tweet transport updates, weather alerts, emergency notifications, etc.
How To Go Through the Twitter Paywall
If you don’t fancy paying to use a social platform, you may wonder how to go through the Twitter paywall. Twitter has not yet implemented the paywall for all users. Therefore, it is too soon to tell whether there is a workaround around the paywall.
However, looking at the current paywalls Twitter has already implemented, it is difficult to see a way through. For example, no developer has found a way through Twitter’s API paywall. Similarly, there is no way through the reading paywall on X. Unverified accounts now experience stricter Twitter reading limits than those with the blue check mark for users.
Therefore, since there is no way through these existing paywalls, it’s doubtful that there will be a way through an X paywall when Twitter implements this in the future.
FAQ
FAQ: What is a paywall on Twitter?
A paywall on Twitter is a feature requiring users to pay or subscribe to access and use the X platform. There’s now an X API paywall for developers, but a platform paywall would require all users to pay for Twitter.
FAQ: Is Twitter behind a paywall?
No, Twitter is not yet behind a paywall; you can still join and use Twitter for free. However, there have been talks about putting Twitter, now X, behind a paywall. Although not from Twitter’s official channel, this information comes from X’s owner.
FAQ: How many Twitter users are paying?
Over 440,000 Twitter Blue subscribers currently pay for Twitter Premium features. Although this is not a mandatory subscription, a Premium subscription plan allows verified users to access restricted features on the platform.
Keep Enjoying Twitter and Maintain an Organized Timeline With TweetEraser
For now, Twitter is still free to access and use. Thus, it’s wise to leverage the social media platform to build your online presence and brand. You’ll be ready to deal with it whenever the Twitter paywall comes into play.
In the meantime, you can use TweetEraser to maintain your account and keep your profile attractive. This X maintenance tool lets you bulk-delete tweets and likes with a single click. You can even import tweets into your archive with TweetEraser to back up your X data.
So, start filtering and cleaning your Twitter timeline today!
