Twitter is weighing the idea of paid subscriptions to decrease its reliance on advertisements. Not only is the platform exploring subscription-based access to TweetDeck, but it may also start charging users for certain features.
Twitter Wants to Step Away From Ads
Twitter might not remain fully free after all. A report on Bloomberg reveals that Twitter is thinking about new ways it can make money, and this includes subscription fees, paid tips, and even paywalled features.
Twitter may consider adding a subscription model to TweetDeck, the Twitter alternative that neatly organizes your feeds into ad-free columns. The platform explored charging for TweetDeck in 2017, but nothing ever came out of it.
Twitter is also mulling over the idea of paid features on Twitter. In July 2020, Twitter sent out a survey asking users which features they would consider paying for. If paid features ever surface, this might mean paying for advanced profile customization options, and perhaps even features that allow you to undo certain actions.
After CEO Jack Dorsey confirmed Twitter is exploring a subscription model, the company is conducting user surveys on what type of features they’d like to see in such a service.
Undo send, special badges for profiles and advanced analytics are among the features being considered. pic.twitter.com/hL6T8sdI0s
— Andrew Roth+ (@RothsReviews) July 31, 2020
The Bloomberg report also mentioned that Twitter is exploring “tips” as well. This would let users tip journalists or creators for certain types of content. The platform experimented with this option on its broadcasting app Periscope, which is set to shut down in March 2021.
In addition, Twitter’s chief financial officer, Ned Segal, hinted at other kinds of paid features at a conference in December 2020. He noted that Twitter’s paid features could involve “higher-quality video,” “analytics,” and even “business presence.”
Bruce Falck, Twitter’s head of revenue products, told Bloomberg that Twitter “may include” subscriptions in the future. He went on to say, “While we’re excited about this potential, it’s important to note we are still in very early exploration and we do not expect any meaningful revenue attributable to these opportunities in 2021.” This means we probably won’t have to worry about paid features just yet.
Twitter announced that it was acquiring the newsletter service, Revue, in January 2021. Charging users for a newsletter subscription would seem like a logical path for Twitter to take, but it remains unclear whether Twitter plans to do so.
Would You Pay for Features on Twitter?
It’s hard to imagine Twitter as anything other than a free social network. While power users might pay for certain features to enhance their Twitter experiences, the average user likely wouldn’t feel inclined to pay for a TweetDeck subscription or purchase an undo feature.
Twitter needs to strike the perfect balance between satisfying advertisers and its users. If it leans too heavily on charging users and eliminating ads, this would leave both users and advertisers unhappy.