Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) is going through advertising revenue troubles after many of its major advertisers such as Apple, IBM, Comcast, and others have pulled ads from the platform. But despite the hiccup, the platform continues to bring new features for the users. In a new announcement that came directly from Musk, the platform is introducing another way for its Premium subscribers to get a larger reach on the platform, this time with some strategic control over it. Musk has revealed that adding posts to the Highlights tab, which was introduced in August, will enable users to reach more users.
Elon Musk may be selling some X user handles for a minimum of $50000
04.11.2023 - 04:59 / tech.hindustantimes.com / Elon Musk / May Be
X (formerly Twitter) is going through a transformative period. Recently, Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, revealed his plans to turn it into an ‘everything app'. The company is also releasing new features at a break-neck pace. Some of these features are also exclusive to the X Premium members, who pay a monthly subscription fee, to improve its revenue. Now, a new report has highlighted that X is also selling off old user handles to others at a massive price tag of $50000 and up. This revelation has emerged after some reports mentioned that X may actually start a marketplace where users can sell their handles to other users, and the platform takes a cut.
Forbes found emails from the team within the company that has started working on a project to create a marketplace “for the purchase of account names left unused by the people who originally registered them”. Additionally, it has also been reported that X sent out emails to users whom they have identified as potential buyers asking them for a flat fee that starts with $50000 in exchange for popular handles.
The report also mentions that these emails “came from active X employees and noted that the company recently made updates to its @handle guidelines, process, and fees”. However, to protect the identity of the recipients, Forbes has not revealed the contents of the emails.
It turns out that Musk has been trying to create a username marketplace for months. In November 2022, Musk banned a large number of accounts that he found to be bots or trolls. When a user asked whether their handles were up for grabs, Musk said, “Some have simply been abandoned, but vast numbers of handles were consumed by bots/trolls. Aiming to start freeing those up next month”.
A New York Times report suggested that starting January 2023, Musk was already planning to sell off old user handles.
Now, it is not clear when the marketplace will be set, but it appears that X will keep some of the most lucrative options with itself so it does not just get a small commission off it, but can actually make money by selling it directly to potential buyers. If the report is to be believed, $50000 is just the bottom ceiling.
The website gametalkz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Authors
Popular Topics
wccftech.com
22.11.2023 / 00:18
Former OpenAI Employees Allege “Deceit and Manipulation” by Sam Altman: Elon Musk Calls for Investigation
This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.
pcgamer.com
21.11.2023 / 13:21
Elon Musk claims he was once one of the best Quake players around, everyone laughs, but wait: The actual best Quake player ever says Musk 'wasn't very good, but he's still an OG'
Billionaire and omnipresent main character Elon Musk has declared he was once one of the best Quake players in the world, to the tune of winning money for his skills. This obviously sounds like the kind of thing your mate would say after their third pint, but the revelation came during an interview with podcaster Lex Fridman during which Musk was expansive on his wider gaming habits, and particularly his Diablo 4 druid's inability to beat Lilith.
tech.hindustantimes.com
19.11.2023 / 07:39
Bill Ackman defends Elon Musk after backlash over antisemitism
Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman defended Elon Musk after major advertisers pulled ads from social media site X over antisemitic commentary.
wccftech.com
18.11.2023 / 19:01
Elon Musk Calls Advertisers “Oppressors” After Comcast, IBM, and NBC Universal Abandon X
This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.
tech.hindustantimes.com
18.11.2023 / 18:09
Backlash Spreads Over Elon Musk’s Endorsement of Antisemitic Post
Outcry over unchecked antisemitic content and commentary on social media site X, some of it endorsed by the platform's owner Elon Musk, reached a tipping point on Friday, with large advertisers such as Apple Inc. pulling ads and the White House chastising the billionaire.
tech.hindustantimes.com
18.11.2023 / 06:23
In massive setback for Elon Musk’s X, Apple pulls ads over antisemitism controversy
X (formerly Twitter) has once again found itself in troubled waters courtesy its billionaire owner, Elon Musk. Ever since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, the social media platform has been filled with hate posts, propaganda, and misinformation. But recently, brands have pulled the plug on advertising on the platform citing antisemitism as a big reason. Recently, IBM, Disney, Warner Bros., Discovery, and EU pulled ads, and now Apple has joined the list as well, as per a report. Incidentally, the big chunk of the advertisers exiting came after company owner Elon Musk replied in support of a post accusing Jewish people of hating white people.
tech.hindustantimes.com
18.11.2023 / 01:21
IBM and EU pull ads from Elon Musk's X as concerns about antisemitism fuel backlash
Advertisers are fleeing social media platform X over concerns about their ads showing up next to pro-Nazi content and hate speech on the site in general, with billionaire owner Elon Musk inflaming tensions with his own tweets endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
tech.hindustantimes.com
16.11.2023 / 18:27
Elon Musk Calls Antisemitic Post on X the ‘Actual Truth’
Billionaire Elon Musk endorsed an antisemitic post on X, the social media site he owns, that attacked members of the Jewish community for pushing “dialectical hatred” against white people.
tech.hindustantimes.com
16.11.2023 / 02:35
Elon Musk and Jane Fraser Are Just Some of the CEOs Hoping to Woo China’s Xi
Executives from Microsoft Corp., Citigroup Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp. and other large multinationals are converging on San Francisco this week for an audience with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Asian leaders as long-frosty US-China relations show only tentative signs of warming.
tech.hindustantimes.com
10.11.2023 / 11:27
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to meet Elon Musk, Tesla's India foray on agenda; will also interact with POTUS
Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to visit the US from November 13-17 to attend the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) ministerial meeting and has been invited to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco.
tech.hindustantimes.com
10.11.2023 / 09:03
Bad news for Elon Musk as US govt toughens stance over Starlink's direct phone connectivity bid
A recent report highlighted that Elon Musk-owned SpaceX is on track to record a $9 billion revenue, with projections for operating profits. Its new venture, Starlink, the satellite internet service provider, has begun contributing to the revenue significantly now. Musk also has big plans for the venture as the company is expected to launch Starlink cellular service, which will provide satellite-based messaging and internet facilities to smartphones. The service is planned to be launched in 2024, but ahead of schedule, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has sent a set of questions to SpaceX over concerns around certain matters.