X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, just announced a controversial move: live streaming will soon be exclusive to premium subscribers. This decision puts X in a league of its own – the only major social media platform to charge for a feature that’s free on competitors like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok.

The news came via a simple X post from the platform’s official @Live account. “Starting soon, only Premium subscribers will be able to livestream (create live video streams) on X,” the announcement read. It even included a mention of “going live from an encoder with X integration,” suggesting that the platform’s game streaming capabilities are also getting locked behind the paywall.

X, however, remained tight-lipped on the reasoning behind this change. While X Premium already offers perks like post editing, longer character limits, ad-free feeds, and the coveted blue checkmark, this is the first time a core feature like live streaming is being moved behind a paywall. X Premium subscriptions start at a modest $3 per month, but can climb to $16 depending on the tier you choose.

This isn’t the only sign that X, under the ownership of Elon Musk, might be headed towards a pay-to-play model. Earlier this year, X experimented with a $1 annual fee for new accounts in New Zealand and the Philippines to unlock posting privileges. While officially a test program, Musk has hinted at expanding this fee to all new users in the future.

The decision to monetize live streaming has sparked mixed reactions. Some argue that it could elevate the quality of live content on X by deterring spammers and trolls. However, critics point out that this move stifles the platform’s potential for citizen journalism and real-time updates, which have been hallmarks of live streaming on social media.

Related /

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• It’s official: Twitter migrates to the X.com domain
• X/Twitter will soon force paid subscribers to display their checkmark badges