In an attempt to reduce its dependence on advertising, a number of Twitter teams are researching subscription offerings, including one using the code name “Rogue One,” BNN Bloomberg is reporting.
Citing people familiar with the company’s plans, the report notes that at least one idea being considered is related to “tipping,” or the ability for users to pay the people they follow for exclusive content.
Other possible ways being considered by Twitter to generate recurring revenue include charging for the use of services like Tweetdeck or advanced user features like “undo send” or profile-customization options.
“Increasing revenue durability is our top company objective,” Bruce Falck, Twitter’s head of revenue products, said in a statement, adding that this “may include” subscriptions. “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.”
Michael Levine, a senior analyst at Pivotal Research Group, doesn’t think people will pay for ad-free Twitter, but agrees that the company’s best option is to start selling some type of exclusive content.
