Through a new marketplace, X will let Premium+ and Premium Business subscribers claim inactive usernames. Full-name handles may not cost extra, but shorter ones may cost ‘over seven figures,’ X says.<\/b>
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Elon Musk\u2019s X will soon let its Premium+ and Premium Business subscribers claim usernames that are no longer active. Users will be to acquire inactive handles through a new portal called X Handle Marketplace.
\u201cThe X Handle Marketplace is our industry-first solution to redistribute handles that are no longer in use,\u201d X\u2019s announcement post reads. \u201cEligible Premium subscribers will be able to search and make requests, with both complimentary and paid options available.\u201d
The free usernames are categorized as Priority handles, while the invite-only or paid ones are categorized as Rare handles.
Priority handles refer to usernames comprising of full names, multi-word phrases, or alphanumeric combinations. Users will be able submit a request for a username they prefer, and get their request viewed by X in three business days. If approved, they\u2019ll be able to keep the username for as long as their Premium+ and Premium Business subscription. If they unsubscribe or downgrade, their account will return to the old handle following a 30-day grace period.
Rare handles, on the other hand, refer to short, generic, or culturally significant names\u2014something that artists (e.g. @cher), politicians (e.g. @potus), and brands (e.g. @meta) use. They can be claimed in one of two ways: through public drops or through invite-only direct purchase programs. Recommended by Our Editors
For public drops, X will select Rare handles that have a wider appeal, for which multiple users may apply. Final allotment will be based on past X contributions, intended use, and engagement or reach on the platform.
For Direct Purchases, X will invite some users and offer Rare handles for a price they decide based on factors like popularity of the username, its length and cultural significance. The price starts at $2,500 and go can up to \u201cover seven figures, depending on demand and uniqueness,\u201d according to a support page.
Once you claim a handle from the X Handle Marketplace, your old username will remain frozen; it will not be assigned to anyone else. Additionally, handles claimed here can\u2019t be transferred, so scalpers may have to look away.
emium+ starts at $40 per month, while X Premium Business starts at $50\/per month. Both subscribers can currently join the waitlist for X handles, which X says is \u201ccoming soon.\u201d
This may not be X\u2019s first rodeo with username sales. Back in 2023, it was reported to be selling some usernames for as high as $50,000.
Meanwhile, the platform has also begun testing a new way to handle links. Instead of letting a web browser take over the entire interface, it will now collapse the X post to the bottom so that users are reminded to get back to X after reading the webpage.<\/p>\n