Live broadcasts in X will become a Premium feature
This change will make the X the only platform that charge for live broadcast (Facebook Instagram, YouTube, Twitch and TikTok still provides it for free).
The news was confirmed by the official Live profile in a post on X.
Although no specific date was given, the message states that free users will no longer be able to broadcast live content on the platform. Users who wish to continue livestreaming on X will need to pay for a Premium subscription, which costs $8 per month or $84 per year. The Premium subscription also provides access to a blue checkmark and other exclusive features, such as author subscriptions and fewer ads on your timeline.
"Starting soon, only Premium subscribers will be able to livestream (create live video streams) on X," the company stated in a statement, adding that this includes livestreaming through an encoder with the X integration.
This news was not unexpected, as Elon Musk has been seeking ways to increase the platform's revenue. This year, he proposed charging a small fee for new accounts to avoid spam and bots. Users who do not pay will be only able to follow other accounts and read posts for free.