X / Twitter launches video and audio calls — here’s how to use ‘em

Ever get involved in an argument on X and say to yourself, "If only I could call this person up and engage with this troll through a video and audio format?"

Well, you are in luck — if you pay Elon Musk $8 per month, that is.

X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has just launched its video call feature. Users first started noticing the roll out on Wednesday evening. 

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Musk, the owner of the platform, and X CEO Linda Yaccarino both posted about the launch. Yaccarino even shared a screenshot showing the call feature in action.

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The ability to call users is only available to users subscribed to X Premium, the $8 per month paid service formerly known as Twitter Blue. However, those subscribers can call anyone on X — as long as the user has sent you a direct message at least once before.

The recipient of an X video call also does not have to be subscribed to X Premium. For users who want to control whether they can make or receive calls, management options can be found in the Direct Message settings page.

How to make a call on Twitter / X

To make a call, X Premium subscribers can go to their direct message inbox, tap on a conversation with a user, click the phone icon, and choose whether you want to make an audio or video call. Also, make sure you have the latest version of the X app installed. As of now, the call feature is only available for iOS devices, but an Android roll out is on the way.

It's unclear whether this feature will really move the needle for X's struggling paid subscription service. Based on previous feature additions to the service, like monetization, it likely won't do much to bring in new subscribers.

But a new feature is a new feature. Just beware if you're going to jump on a call: Musk has pointed out that the feature is currently in beta, so don't be surprised if there are bugs.