Twitter—my mistake. X has made several changes to the platform ever since Elon Musk took charge as its CEO. The most notable include rebranding Twitter to X, tweets” to “posts, and retweets to reposts. The tagline has been updated to “Blaze your glory!” But that does not end there, and it will not. In August 2023, the ability to block other users was removed. It also established a paid subscription model. Here comes the latest set of X updates that will blow your mind.
Let’s put them in the limelight.
Latest X Updates
Not A Bot Subscription: Latest X updates
“Not a Bot” is a $1 annual subscription under testing that charges new users for certain actions on the platform. New users who opt out of subscribing will only be able to take “read-only” actions and cannot post content, like posts, reply, repost and quote other accounts’ posts, or bookmark them. “Within this test, existing users are not affected,” X posted.
Upon joining, X will ask you to verify that you are not a bot. This will include verification with a phone number and a token fee of 1 USD. This new program aims to defend against bots and spammers who attempt to manipulate the platform and disrupt the experience of other X users.
Premium Subscription Models
In another countermeasure against bots, X is launching two tiers of premium subscriptions other than the present basic plan. This new approach would offer users a choice between different plans, each with varying ad experiences. The standard plan will have half as many ads and cost $8 per month. While the Plus Premium plan will be a bit expensive and will have a total ad-free experience,
Musk said in a Twitter post, “The single reason that we are moving to a monthly payment for the X is that it is the only way to combat vast armies of bots.” This new approach may seem perfect for users who do not wish to watch ads on the platform. But it is a fear that has come true for marketers as the target audience will be reduced in number. In the long term, it will have a significant impact on advertisers who invest in X.
Removing Article Headlines
Next on the list of X updates is removing article headlines for links shared on the platform. The articles will now just display a thumbnail image with a clickable website link. It was not long ago that Musk stated that he called traditional news outlets “legacy media propaganda” and stated X as a “better,” more trustworthy alternative. The journalists complained that the change would decrease attention to links and make it hard for users to understand the content of posted links.
The response from Twitter is somewhat hilarious. Musk argued that the platform’s algorithm “tries to optimize time spent on X,” and the decision would “greatly improve the aesthetics.” Although it may seem great for traditional users who just use the platform of scrolling, journalists find it a treachery by X.
X Pro
TweetDeck was the popular third party app for accessing Twitter until Twitter acquired it in 2011. What made it unique was its ability to handle multiple accounts and custom feeds. It comes in handy for journalists and marketers who were busy handling multiple accounts for their day to day activities.
Even after Twitter acquired the platform, it was free for all users. However, the latest August X updates revealed that the feature will now be available only in the pro version of Twitter, aka X Pro. Users consider it backstabbing by X, as it is disgusting for them to pay for a useful tool that was previously free.
New Privacy Policy
As per the new policy, which goes into effect on September 29, 2023, X may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security, and identification purposes. Further, the platform may collect and use your personal information, like educational and employment history, skills, job search activity, and engagement. This is fair as it helps Twitter recommend jobs with its new feature, X Hiring, as per your personal preferences and to connect employees with prospective employers.
However, here is something for you to worry about. The new policy suggests that X plans to use personal data to train AI algorithms. The good news here is that this is “based on your consent”. But the catch is that most netizens give consent involuntarily without reading the terms and conditions as they login.
Wrapping Up
Since Elon Musk took charge as CEO of X, the social media platform has had its ups and downs. With the release of Twitter lookalike platforms like the Threads app, Mashable, and Discord, the platform is going through a tough situation. Since 2022, ad revenue has dropped by 59%. This led the company to explore new ways to generate revenue other than ad revenue. Musk revealed last month that he was planning to make X a paid platform for all users.
Musk has made it clear he intends to make X an “everything app,” like the Chinese app WeChat. In the near future, X will have options ranging from chatting, blogging, sharing videos, calling, and personal finance. To support the argument, Musk clarified that both audio and video calls are coming to X.
So my thoughts go like this: Will the X updates make your life hard (like your ex) or will the situation becomes better with time. We have to wait and see.