Netizens react to Elon Musk plan of charging payment to X users

X owner Elon Musk has floated the idea that the social platform formerly known as Twitter might charge users with monthly payments to get rid of bots, drawing mixed reactions from Filipino social media users.

About 11.8 million Filipinos are using X, making the Philippines among the top 13 countries with the most number of X users, according to global data and business intelligence platform Statista.

Some of them expressed their disappointment with Musk's proposal, arguing that the platform should remain free.

"You will lose a lot of users for sure," one netizen commented.

"No this can be! This is my haven!!!" another user said.

Some users said they were reluctant to pay for a service they had previously enjoyed at no cost, adding that they might leave the platform in search of free alternatives.

"This is the sign to switch to Threads," one user said, referring to the new social networking service operated by Meta Platforms.

Launched in 2006, X is one of the most popular social media platforms where users can post short-form messages for free.

Musk did not say what the new subscription payment would cost, but described it as a "small amount of money."

"It's the only way I can think of to combat vast armies of bots," the billionaire explained during his live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Since Musk took over the platform last year, the company has been urging users to subscribe to the "X Premium" subscription program (previously Twitter Blue).