Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), has announced that the social media platform will introduce two new premium subscription tiers. In a recent post, Musk stated that one tier will offer all features at a lower cost but will still include ads, while the other tier will be more expensive but will be ad-free. The details of these plans have not been revealed yet, and it is unclear if there will be any free options available.
X has already started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1 to access the platform. Those who choose not to subscribe will have limited functionality, such as only being able to read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts. Musk has previously expressed his belief that charging for the service is the solution to eliminating bots and fake accounts on the platform. Since taking over the company in October last year, he has been working to incentivize users to pay for an enhanced service, now called X Premium. Some users currently pay $8 per month for the blue check subscription service, and the “Not A Bot” subscription method aims to reduce spam and bot activity.
Musk’s efforts to generate revenue on X have faced challenges, including advertisers halting ads on the platform due to concerns about inappropriate content. He has made changes to the platform, such as mass layoffs and disbanding content moderation teams, which have impacted revenue. Musk has blamed activists for pressuring advertisers and has tried to attract them back with discounts. Other tech companies, like YouTube and Netflix, have also experimented with a combination of ad-supported and subscription plans.
The European Commission recently launched an investigation into X to determine if it complies with new tech rules regarding illegal and harmful content. This investigation was prompted by the spread of disinformation on the platform following Hamas’s attack on Israel. It remains to be seen how X will address these concerns and continue to evolve its business model.
Original news source: Elon Musk says X to have two new premium tiers (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then write a concise summary of the main points. They should focus on key details such as Elon Musk’s announcement of premium subscription tiers, the introduction of ad-free options, and the challenges faced by X in generating revenue.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss their opinions on the introduction of premium subscription tiers on social media platforms. They should consider the pros and cons, as well as their own experiences with ads on social media. After the discussion, each group will present their opinions to the class and engage in a debate.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Students will work individually and choose a key concept or idea from the article, such as the introduction of ad-free options or the challenges faced by X. They will then create a sketch or drawing that represents their chosen concept. Afterward, they will present their sketches to the class and explain the meaning behind their drawings.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns selecting and drawing vocabulary words related to the article, such as premium subscription, functionality, or disinformation. Their partner must guess the word based on their drawing. This activity will help students practice their vocabulary and visual communication skills.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Students will work individually and create a list of the pros and cons of charging for enhanced social media services, as mentioned in the article. They should consider both the benefits and drawbacks for users and the platform itself. Afterward, they will share their lists with a partner and engage in a discussion about their findings.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What are the two new premium subscription tiers that Elon Musk announced for X?
2. What is the difference between the two tiers in terms of ads?
3. Has X revealed the details of these plans yet?
4. Which countries are currently being charged $1 to access the platform?
5. What limited functionality will users have if they choose not to subscribe?
6. Why does Elon Musk believe charging for the service is a solution to eliminating bots and fake accounts?
7. What challenges has Musk faced in generating revenue on X?
8. Why did the European Commission launch an investigation into X?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), has announced that the (1)______ media (2)______ will (3)______ two new premium subscription tiers. In a recent post, Musk stated that one tier will (4)______ all features at a lower cost but will still include ads, while the other tier will be more expensive but will be ad-free. The details of these plans have not been revealed yet, and it is unclear if there will be any free options available.
X has already started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1 to access the platform. Those who choose not to subscribe will have limited (5)______, such as only being able to read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts. Musk has previously expressed his belief that charging for the (6)______ is the solution to eliminating bots and fake accounts on the platform. Since taking over the (7)______ in October last year, he has been working to incentivize (8)______ to pay for an enhanced service, now called X Premium. Some users currently pay $8 per month for the blue check subscription service, and the “Not A Bot” subscription method aims to reduce spam and bot activity.
Musk’s (9)______ to generate revenue on X have faced (10)______, including advertisers halting ads on the platform due to concerns about inappropriate content. He has made changes to the platform, such as mass layoffs and disbanding content moderation (11)______, which have (12)______ revenue. Musk has blamed activists for pressuring advertisers and has tried to attract them back with discounts. Other tech companies, like YouTube and Netflix, have also experimented with a combination of ad-supported and (13)______ plans.
The European Commission recently launched an investigation into X to (14)______ if it complies with new tech rules (15)______ illegal and harmful (16)______. This investigation was prompted by the spread of disinformation on the platform following Hamas’s attack on Israel. It remains to be seen how X will address these concerns and continue to evolve its business model.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is your opinion on social media platforms introducing premium subscription tiers?
2. How would you feel if you had to pay to access a social media platform like X?
3. Do you think charging for the service can effectively eliminate bots and fake accounts? Why or why not?
4. What is your experience with encountering inappropriate content on social media platforms?
5. How do you think X can attract advertisers back to the platform despite concerns about inappropriate content?
6. Do you believe that a combination of ad-supported and subscription plans is a good business model for tech companies? Why or why not?
7. What is your opinion on the European Commission launching an investigation into X regarding illegal and harmful content?
8. How do you think X should address the concerns raised by the European Commission?
9. What measures do you think X can take to evolve its business model and ensure compliance with new tech rules?
10. Have you ever encountered disinformation on a social media platform? How did it affect your perception of the platform?
11. How do you think X can effectively combat the spread of disinformation following significant events like Hamas’s attack on Israel?
12. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of introducing premium subscription tiers on social media platforms?
13. Do you think the introduction of premium subscription tiers will impact user engagement on X? Why or why not?
14. How important is it for social media platforms to have ad-free options? Why?
15. What changes do you think X needs to make to its platform to ensure a successful transition to a premium subscription model?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. X
2. subscription
3. ads
4. functionality
5. revenue
6. content
7. investigation
8. business model
Meanings:
(a) A formal examination or inquiry
(b) The strategy or plan for operating a company
(c) A service that requires payment for access
(d) Income generated from a business or service
(e) The social media platform formerly known as Twitter
(f) Information or material shared on a platform
(g) The features and capabilities of a product or service
(h) Promotional messages or videos
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Who is the CEO of X?
(a) Mark Zuckerberg
(b) Elon Musk
(c) Jack Dorsey
(d) Sundar Pichai
2. What is the new name of Twitter?
(a) Facebook
(b) Instagram
(c) Snapchat
(d) X
3. What will the lower-cost premium subscription tier include?
(a) All features and no ads
(b) Limited features and ads
(c) Limited features and no ads
(d) All features and ads
4. Which countries are currently being charged $1 to access the platform?
(a) United States and Canada
(b) New Zealand and the Philippines
(c) United Kingdom and Australia
(d) Germany and France
5. Why does Elon Musk believe charging for the service will eliminate bots and fake accounts?
(a) It reduces spam and bot activity
(b) It attracts more advertisers
(c) It incentivizes users to pay for an enhanced service
(d) It increases revenue for the company
6. What has been a challenge for generating revenue on X?
(a) Advertisers halting ads due to inappropriate content
(b) Lack of user engagement
(c) Competition from other social media platforms
(d) Technical issues with the platform
7. Which tech companies have also experimented with a combination of ad-supported and subscription plans?
(a) YouTube and Netflix
(b) Facebook and Instagram
(c) Snapchat and TikTok
(d) LinkedIn and Pinterest
8. Why did the European Commission launch an investigation into X?
(a) To investigate its revenue generation strategies
(b) To assess its impact on user privacy
(c) To determine if it complies with new tech rules regarding illegal and harmful content
(d) To evaluate its competition with other social media platforms
True or False Questions:
1. Elon Musk, the CEO of X, has announced the introduction of two new premium subscription tiers on the social media platform.
2. Those who choose not to subscribe will have limited functionality, such as only being able to read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts.
3. Musk believes that charging for the service will not help eliminate bots and fake accounts on the platform.
4. X has not already started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1 to access the platform.
5. The details of these new subscription plans have already been revealed.
6. The other premium tier will be more expensive but will be ad-free.
7. One of the premium tiers will offer all features at a higher cost and will not include ads.
8. X has faced challenges generating revenue, including advertisers halting ads due to concerns about inappropriate content.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What are the two new premium subscription tiers that Elon Musk announced for X?
2. How does Musk believe that charging for the service will help eliminate bots and fake accounts on X?
3. What challenges has Musk faced in generating revenue on X?
4. What changes has Musk made to the platform in an attempt to attract advertisers back?
5. Why did the European Commission launch an investigation into X?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. The two new premium subscription tiers that Elon Musk announced for X are a lower-cost tier that includes ads and a more expensive tier that is ad-free.
2. The difference between the two tiers in terms of ads is that the lower-cost tier will still include ads, while the more expensive tier will be ad-free.
3. No, X has not revealed the details of these plans yet.
4. The countries currently being charged $1 to access the platform are New Zealand and the Philippines.
5. If users choose not to subscribe, they will have limited functionality, such as only being able to read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts.
6. Elon Musk believes charging for the service is a solution to eliminating bots and fake accounts because it incentivizes users to pay for an enhanced service, which can help reduce spam and bot activity.
7. Musk has faced challenges in generating revenue on X, including advertisers halting ads on the platform due to concerns about inappropriate content. He has made changes to the platform, such as mass layoffs and disbanding content moderation teams, which have impacted revenue. Musk has also blamed activists for pressuring advertisers and has tried to attract them back with discounts.
8. The European Commission launched an investigation into X to determine if it complies with new tech rules regarding illegal and harmful content. This investigation was prompted by the spread of disinformation on the platform following Hamas’s attack on Israel.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) social
(2) platform
(3) introduce
(4) offer
(5) functionality
(6) service
(7) company
(8) users
(9) efforts
(10) challenges
(11) teams
(12) impacted
(13) subscription
(14) determine
(15) regarding
(16) content
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. X
Answer: (e) The social media platform formerly known as Twitter
2. subscription
Answer: (c) A service that requires payment for access
3. ads
Answer: (h) Promotional messages or videos
4. functionality
Answer: (g) The features and capabilities of a product or service
5. revenue
Answer: (d) Income generated from a business or service
6. content
Answer: (f) Information or material shared on a platform
7. investigation
Answer: (a) A formal examination or inquiry
8. business model
Answer: (b) The strategy or plan for operating a company
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Who is the CEO of X?
Answer: (b) Elon Musk
2. What is the new name of Twitter?
Answer: (d) X
3. What will the lower-cost premium subscription tier include?
Answer: (d) All features and ads
4. Which countries are currently being charged $1 to access the platform?
Answer: (b) New Zealand and the Philippines
5. Why does Elon Musk believe charging for the service will eliminate bots and fake accounts?
Answer: (c) It incentivizes users to pay for an enhanced service
6. What has been a challenge for generating revenue on X?
Answer: (a) Advertisers halting ads due to inappropriate content
7. Which tech companies have also experimented with a combination of ad-supported and subscription plans?
Answer: (a) YouTube and Netflix
8. Why did the European Commission launch an investigation into X?
Answer: (c) To determine if it complies with new tech rules regarding illegal and harmful content
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Elon Musk, the CEO of X, has announced the introduction of two new premium subscription tiers on the social media platform. (Answer: True)
2. Those who choose not to subscribe will have limited functionality, such as only being able to read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts. (Answer: True)
3. Musk believes that charging for the service will not help eliminate bots and fake accounts on the platform. (Answer: False)
4. X has not already started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1 to access the platform. (Answer: False)
5. The details of these new subscription plans have already been revealed. (Answer: False)
6. The other premium tier will be more expensive but will be ad-free. (Answer: True)
7. One of the premium tiers will offer all features at a higher cost and will not include ads. (Answer: False)
8. X has faced challenges generating revenue, including advertisers halting ads due to concerns about inappropriate content. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
