Insights At a Glance:
- My X timeline has become overwhelmed with consecutive ads — up to six or even seven in a row.
- This could be part of a larger strategy to push non-paying users into X Premium.
- Despite the pressure, I’m not subscribing. I won’t reward a bad experience that feels intentionally broken.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but lately, my X timeline has been looking like a 9PM infomercial marathon on Kenyan TV. Scrolling through what used to be a mix of chaotic banter and breaking news now feels like stumbling into an aggressively curated shopping mall. From betting and crypto casinos to gym equipments and floor tiles — I’ve seen it all. And not just once. Not twice. We’re talking five to six ads, sometimes even seven, stacked in a row between two normal posts.
Here’s a scrolling screenshot I took earlier today with up to seven consecutive ads:
At first, I brushed it off. I don’t pay for X Premium, so I expected to see ads. That’s how the internet works, right? Free access in exchange for a few promotions — fair trade. But this? This isn’t about balance. This is a full-on ad onslaught, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being strategically tortured into submission.
There was a time when Twitter, as it was known back then, knew how to whisper. You’d get an ad after every few posts. It was subtle — a gentle reminder that the platform needed to make money. I’d spot an ad for a travel backpack or an emergency app, maybe even click it if I was feeling generous. It didn’t get in the way.
Now? Not so much. Over the past week, I captured multiple screenshots showing ad clusters like some kind of timeline-sponsored invasion. From banks to Huawei’s AI rainforest mascots, flashlight bundles, and crypto casinos — the algorithm clearly doesn’t care what I’m into anymore. It only cares that I see something I might click. Or rage-click.
But Why All the Ads?
Spoiler alert: money.
According to TechCrunch, X had just 1.4 million Premium users as of October 2024 — a tiny slice of the entire user base. And while X has been offering discounted subscriptions to boost those numbers, it hasn’t exactly been raining revenue.
Then came some curious timing: Elon Musk made a return from his political escapades last month, and with him came a subtle (but very noticeable) algorithm shift on my timeline – a shift that some X users have been dealing with for months now. According to Appfigures, May 2025 saw $16.7 million in net mobile revenue — down from $18.4M in April, but up 120% year-over-year. How? Not just from price hikes. The platform claims it’s thanks to “surfacing interesting posts.”
But if my timeline is anything to go by, those “interesting posts” seem to be 80% ads and 20% actual content. So either the algorithm’s gone rogue, or this is a very intentional squeeze.
This Feels Personal
The writing is on the wall — and plastered all over my screen. X is strong-arming free users like me into coughing up for Premium by making the ad experience borderline unbearable. The goal seems simple: frustrate us into subscribing just to reclaim the user experience we had before.
I’m not the only one connecting these dots. Just look around: from Reddit threads to tech blogs, people are increasingly noticing the same thing. The “free” version of X is getting worse — on purpose. And I can’t help but wonder: is this also about recouping the alleged Trump campaign funding Elon poured in before their very public breakup? Call it a conspiracy, but the timeline fits.
Oh, and let’s not pretend competition is pressuring them. Bluesky, the Twitter-alternative darling of early 2025, has taken a nosedive — downloads fell from 2.7 million in January to just 370,000 in May, according to Appfigures. So no, X isn’t being forced into desperation. It could be a deliberate business play.
But I’m Not Paying
Here’s the thing: I’m not anti-ads. I get the game. Free platforms need to make money. But there’s a difference between monetizing and manipulating. And when you shove five to six ads between two tweets every few scrolls, you’re not offering a freemium model — you’re holding the experience hostage.
And honestly? That’s what gets me. I could pay for Premium. But I won’t — not out of principle, but because I refuse to be backed into a corner by design. If Premium is so valuable, let it speak for itself. Don’t cripple the free version just to boost your bottom line.
So no, Elon. I’m not biting.
Are You Seeing This Too?
So tell me — is it just my feed? Or are you too getting spammed with flashlight ads, crypto pitches, and school buses in bulk?
I’m genuinely curious whether this is a targeted push or if we’re all swimming in the same ad swamp. Drop a reply, send a screenshot — whatever. Let’s figure out if this is a one-user saga or a full-blown platform pivot.
Because I’m holding the line. But I’d love to know how many others are standing with me.
