Elon Musk’s recent acquisition of Twitter has ushered in a series of substantial changes, including rebranding the platform as “X.” Musk has hinted at the introduction of a potential monthly fee for users, primarily aimed at addressing the issue of fake accounts plaguing the social media giant. However, the specifics of this fee, including its amount and associated perks, remain undisclosed. In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk shared some intriguing statistics about X. The platform now boasts a staggering 550 million monthly users, generating between 100 to 200 million daily posts. Despite these impressive figures, questions linger regarding the proportion of real users versus bots within this massive user base. Musk refrained from making direct comparisons to Twitter’s previous metrics before his takeover.
In Short:
- Elon Musk’s Twitter rebrand as X hints at a monthly user fee to tackle fake accounts.
- During a conversation with Israel’s Prime Minister, Musk revealed X has 550 million monthly users.
- Content moderation challenges arise as X faces criticisms for supporting hate speech.
While the primary focus of Musk’s discussion with Netanyahu was the potential risks posed by advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and the need for regulatory measures, the conversation also touched upon the criticism X has faced for allowing hate speech and anti-Semitic content on its platform. In recent times, civil rights groups have chastised Musk and X for inadequately combating hate speech and anti-Semitism. Musk even hinted at the possibility of legal action against the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish organization, citing negative effects on X’s revenue. As of now, no such lawsuit has been filed, and the ADL has refrained from immediate comments on the matter.
Ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu, Musk made controversial remarks about George Soros, a renowned philanthropist, accusing his foundation of harboring intentions to harm Western civilization. Soros has been the subject of baseless conspiracy theories. On X itself, Musk has made negative comments about various groups and individuals. Nevertheless, during his discussion with Netanyahu, Musk expressed his stance against targeting any particular group and underscored the importance of unity in humanity’s pursuit of space exploration goals. Since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion, the platform has witnessed significant alterations. Banned accounts, including that of former President Donald Trump, were reinstated. The iconic “blue check” verification system, indicating famous accounts, was also abolished. Instead, users can now obtain a blue badge next to their name and enjoy increased post visibility by paying a fee, a move aimed at discouraging bot usage on the platform. Furthermore, X is actively seeking licenses to operate as a money transmitter in the United States, having already secured approval in eight states, as per public records.