X recently announced a major change in its platform strategy by moving the ability to live stream behind its premium paywall. This decision sets X apart from other major social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok, where live streaming is currently free for users.
According to the announcement, only Premium subscribers will have access to the live streaming feature on X. This includes the ability to create live video streams and go live from an encoder with X integration, particularly appealing to users interested in game streaming capabilities.
While X did not provide a specific reason for this change, the company has been actively promoting its paid subscriptions by offering additional features like post editing, longform writing, and ad-free feeds. Moving a widely available feature like live streaming behind the paywall is a new approach for X.
The cost of X Premium subscriptions starts at $3 per month for the basic tier, with higher tiers available at $8 per month for Premium and $16 per month for Premium+. This pricing strategy aims to attract users who are willing to pay for exclusive features and content on the platform.
In addition to the live streaming change, X has also introduced a $1 annual charge for new accounts in New Zealand and the Philippines to have posting privileges. Although X describes this as a test, Elon Musk has indicated his interest in expanding fees to all new users in the future.
These recent developments suggest that X is exploring new ways to monetize its platform and offer value to its users through premium features. By introducing charges for live streaming and posting privileges, X is positioning itself as a premium social platform that provides exclusive content and experiences for paying subscribers.
