Twitter is preparing to offer publishers a fresh approach to monetizing their content, going beyond the traditional subscription model. CEO Elon Musk recently announced that the platform will enable media publishers to charge users for access to individual articles posted on the website. This new feature is expected to roll out as early as next month. Although the per-article price will be higher than the cost of an all-access subscription, Musk emphasized that it is tailored to those interested in reading occasional stories from specific outlets.
Limited details on the new feature
At this stage, information about the upcoming per-article charging feature remains limited. Musk only revealed that it will begin rolling out next month, without specifying which accounts and media outlets will have the option to charge users per article. Furthermore, Musk did not disclose the commission Twitter would take from these transactions.
When Twitter replaced Super Follows with Subscriptions, Musk announced that the company would not take any money from creators for the first 12 months. After that period, Twitter plans to take a 10 percent cut on subscriptions. Engadget reached out to Twitter for clarification on the new feature, but as the platform no longer has a press team, further details are pending.
Expanding paid features for revenue growth
Under Musk’s leadership, Twitter has introduced a series of paid features to boost revenue. For instance, the verification badge now comes as a perk for the $8-a-month Blue subscription. Additionally, Twitter closed down its free API, launching a new one that users must pay for. Enterprise customers face a steep price of nearly $50,000 per month for access to the new API, prompting some organizations, like NYC’s transport authority, to end Twitter integration or leave the platform altogether.
It remains to be seen whether Twitter will implement the same commission policy for per-article payments as it has for subscriptions. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
