This is why people cancel their X Premium subscription!

Admittedly, people were initially excited about the prospect of X Premium (formerly Twitter). The allure of the blue checkmark, tweet editing, and other exclusive features got many users to sign up. But after a while, the hype wore off, and many people hit the 'unsubscribe' button. Here's why!

1. There are still ads, even if you paid

One of the main reasons people subscribe to X Premium is to get rid of ads. Of course, that's not the whole point of paying for a service. Paying is for a cleaner, more enjoyable experience. But it's frustrating to realize that ads still appear on the timeline.

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Obviously, the premium plan ($8/month) doesn't remove all ads. If you really want an ad-free experience, you'll have to upgrade to the top tier, Premium+, which starts at $16/month.

2. The downside of revenue sharing

X's ad revenue sharing program is another feature that many people think could be a great perk, but ends up being a hassle. As a premium subscriber, you're eligible to earn a portion of the ad revenue from your posts. But what's the downside? Whenever you share a seemingly controversial opinion, some users will accuse you of 'baiting' for engagement just to make money.

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Many people have been posting similar content long before X's revenue sharing became an issue - suddenly, everything posted becomes suspect. Accusations not only undermine the conversations you're trying to have, but they also make the entire experience feel toxic and less authentic.

This has completely changed the way people use the platform. People are starting to question what they post, worrying that they will be misunderstood or accused of being inauthentic. This takes away the joy of expressing yourself freely, which is one of the main reasons people use social media in the first place.

3. Lost verification checkmark due to minor adjustments

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My favorite perk of using X Premium is the green check mark next to your name, signaling that you're a verified user. But you'll soon discover that this badge comes with a caveat.

Whenever you make even the smallest change to your profile—whether it's updating your profile picture or adjusting your display name—you temporarily lose track of it. While these are understandable security measures, having to re-verify every time you make a change is uncomfortable for many people.

If there is no payment verification stamp for days, what reason is there to keep the X Premium subscription?

4. The free experience still works well

Perhaps the biggest reason people cancel their X Premium subscriptions is simply because the free experience on X works well for their needs. People mostly use the platform for entertainment—scrolling through their feeds, sharing the occasional post, interacting with friends and followers. The marginal benefit of upgrading doesn't seem worth spending $16/month on X Premium+.

Additionally, offering premium features like free voice and video calling on the X in the past has led people to believe that more premium features will become free over time.

While X Premium has its benefits, they don't make up for the downsides. Persistent ads, engagement bait accusations, and inconsistent verification statuses make the experience feel less premium than expected. And when I compared it to the free version of X, which meets most of my basic needs, the decision to cancel became clear. Sometimes sticking with what's free is just as acceptable, if not more satisfying.

Micah Soto

Update 04 September 2024