Is it worth paying for X Premium?
A couple of months ago the @DigiTips account subscribed to Twitter Blue which is now called @Premium. Here’s a detailed look at the different perks and if they are worth the investment:
➡️ Long-Form Posts
Long-form posts are antithetical on a micro-blogging platform. It is certainly practical to post long-form articles on X, so users don’t have to click on a link to read the full story on another website. However, since posts get cut after 280 characters, we are not sure many will click to “see more”. Essentially long-form posts do not suit X and a well constructed thread might attract more engagement and eyeballs.
➡️ Bold and italic formatting
Bold and italic formatting are a nice addition to highlight specific words or quotes. Especially improving readability in long-form posts, but it’s essentially cosmetic.
➡️ Prioritised Ranking
The prioritized ranking in replies and search might be one of the most compelling reasons to take out a Premium subscription. However, don’t expect all users who engage with a post to see your specific reply, even if it is first comment under a post.
The verdict is out whether Premium subscribers are systematically prioritized in search. When we searched for accounts “Digital Tips” our own ‘verified’ account @DigiTips didn’t come out on top. When we searched for the hashtag #DigitalDiplomacy the account was upstaged by ten other unverified accounts. Please give it a test drive and let us know if our DigiTips account comes out on top.
➡️ Undo Post
Premium subscribers can ‘undo’ a post within 30 seconds, a useful feature if you spotted a last-minute mistake.
➡️ Edit Button
The edit feature is handy giving you 60 minutes after posting to correct a typo or improve formatting. In any case, it’s always better to proofread your post beforehand or have a secondary protected account to preview your tweet before posting.
➡️ Longer Videos
We haven’t posted any longer videos, so we’ll pass judgement on that feature. Our advice is: keep your videos short and under 140 seconds.
➡️ Media Studio
Access to the Media Studio is now reserved for Premium subscribers only and one of the perks worth paying for. Uploading videos via the Media Studio gives you lots of additional options such as adding a title, a description and a category to each video which will display below the video once posted. It also let’s you share the link to the draft video with other accounts and allows the easy addition of subtitles which are all features worth paying for.
➡️ X Pro (formerly Tweetdeck)
X Pro, formerly known as Tweetdeck is only available to Premium subscribers. The tool allows users to easily monitor multiple columns and tabs with lists and search. For power users that is probably something worth $8.
➡️ Bookmark Folders
We don’t know how many folders you need to bookmark tweets. One bookmark folder is ample for us and that is still free.
➡️ Less Ads
The amount of ads on X can be annoying, especially those for online games which are rather distracting. Seeing less is much appreciated.
➡️ Highlights
Premium users can highlight important tweets. Have you seen the highlight on our profile? Probably not. Here’s the link.
➡️ Community
Only Premium subscribers can create a Community, a public gated group which is useful for discussions on a specific topic.
➡️ The Blue Checkmark
The blue checkmark, which was once a coveted symbol of Twitter nobility has become a badge of shame. No wonder X allows Premium users to hide the blue tick from their profiles.
While some features such as @Pro and the Media Studio are worth the monthly $8 fee for individuals, it is another question whether non-profit and international organisations have the budget to shell out $12,000/year plus $600/year for each affiliate account.
For the moment we will keep our subscription, simply because the long-form posts give us ample space to tag 50 users which comes in handy to ping these users about important posts.
