As it stands today, Twitter users can subscribe to other Twitter users via the iOS app in order to support them every month. Because those subscriptions use Apple’s in-app purchase system, Apple takes a 30% cut as part of the App Store guidelines.
On Twitter’s side, Musk is making a change to the revenue that it keeps from these subscriptions. In the past, Twitter would take nothing for the first 12 months, then 10% moving forward. Now, Musk says that Twitter will take nothing until the total payout exceeds $100,000. Then, it will take 10% of subscription revenue, but the first 12 months are still free:
While we had previously said that ???? would keep nothing for the 12 months, then 10%, we are amending that policy to ???? keeps nothing forever, until payout exceeds $100k, then 10%. First 12 months is still free for all.
Musk is hoping (likely hopelessly) that Apple will adjust its agreement such that it only takes 30% of what Twitter itself keeps, not the total value of every subscription transaction.
“Apple does take 30%, but I will speak with Tim Cook and see if that can be adjusted to be just 30% of what ???? keeps in order to maximize what creators receive,” Musk says.
Elon Musk has been a vocal critic of Apple’s App Store guidelines in the past, referring to the “secret” App Store fee as “like having a 30% tax on the Internet.” He has also expressed his support for Epic Games, which is currently embroiled in a years-long legal battle with Apple over App Store rules.
Musk visited Apple Park last November to meet with Tim Cook. At the time, Musk said he had a “good conversation” with the Apple CEO.
