Well, this is great.
 
Here's Microsoft's statement, from Kotaku:

Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will be free to Gold members, with a free trial period also available for Silver members. Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will offer a truly one-of-a-kind social experience, completely optimized for the TV and seamlessly integrated onto your console. Add to that exclusive access to Last.fm, Netflix instant streaming, demos, trailers and discounts, plus the best multiplayer gaming network on the planet, and we're confident Xbox LIVE Gold memberships is hands-down the best value in home entertainment. We're committed to adding new features and value for our Gold members, and will continue to do so.

This doesn't surprise me in the slightest, that's what I think. EVERYTHING is for Gold members, even timed demo exclusivity. 

I really don't care... It's not because of that, that i'll become a gold member. 
 
Try harder microsoft!

So they're using FREE services to incentivize their GOLD memberships? Good call Microsoft. 
Whatever, I would never use those on a console anyway. They can charge whatever they want for those. What I want free is to be able to game with people ... 360 being a gaming console and all.

Typing on the xbox takes too long anyway (if you havnt invested in the xbox keyboard) so I won't be using it. Besides I don't know anyone who has live and doesn't have a gold account. 

So now they're monetizing services they don't even own. Fucking goobers.

I don't use Twitter in the first place and I don't plan on using Facebook on my Xbox 360.  I have been a Gold member for years(except the past couple of months and up until my first full paycheck comes in due to financial constraints) and I haven't minded paying $50/yr for the service.

I don't mind one bit paying for Gold; I get a lot of mileage out of it. I will use both of the features that are present here because I am (to my own dismay) heavily invested in both. It is a bummer that it won't be available to Silver members but, seriously, if anyone really uses Live, they probably have Gold.

Well this basically just makes my gold membership worth even more so... 
 
Suck my balls, haters! Bwaaaahaahahahahahahah.

I dont have a gold.

What a load of BS. I can use Twitter and Facebook free on my PC. Or even on the PlayStation 3! The Wii too, if you're willing to pay the one-time fee of $5.
It makes no sense to force people to pay for Gold to use free services.

Kinda lame that they're putting these broad community features behind a gate. I hope they wind up being more than just being able to view my Facebook info or Twiter feed from the box. They should jazz it up with some special features like an option to auto-Tweet about new Achievements, a party you've started, etc.

Its a complete cockblock if you ask me, I love how they give you Free this and free that, oh but wait, you gotta pay for a Gold service though.
I think my favorite is when they have a new demo, Resident Evil 5 for example. A demo, which purpose is to entice you to buy the full game, but you had be a gold member to download the demo. You've indirectly paid for a demo. 
Facebook, twitter? Free services on my computer, oh but wait you have to be Gold to use them on Xbox. 
 
I love my Xbox, but man Microsoft sure knows how to screw people when they want too.

lol @ angry nerds

" lol @ angry nerds "

People are also ignoring the fact that Twitter and Facebook have completely redesigned frontends to work more efficently on the PC, and they have a lot of game integrated features.  It's not just exactly the same Twitter/Facebook your using on the PC.  Besides, it's not like you have to pay for them here, you just need a Gold membership.  Seems reasonable enough to me, if you care about doing anything online with your 360 like this, you probably have one anyway.
 

It's possible that I would use twitter.....not facebook

I'm just glad that they're adding more features to make paying for Live more worth it. Although I can't really see myself using Twitter or Facebook while I'm playing a game. Seems annoying.

The Twitter feature is something I will use very regularly while at work in my studio, but I wont be using the Facebook functionality at all. I have no interest in such community sites like Facebook and MySpace.

This gets a solid "meh" from me.

I'll just stick to my computer for facebook, or PS3 browser.

i don't use twitter or facebook. it's a meh for me. i don't like the social network things. i don't get whats so great about them. i don't have gold, i don't play it to much. i will just use my computer if i wanted to surf the internet. 
 
i kind of think that xbox live isn't that great. it just seems like the same thing as psn.

 if anyone really uses Live, they probably have Gold.

Expected. 
 
@Br3adfan said:

" @RHCPfan24 said:

 if anyone really uses Live, they probably have Gold.

Exactly.  Anyone with a silver account is pretty much missing out on having a 360 "

" Its a complete cockblock if you ask me, I love how they give you Free this and free that, oh but wait, you gotta pay for a Gold service though. I think my favorite is when they have a new demo, Resident Evil 5 for example. A demo, which purpose is to entice you to buy the full game, but you had be a gold member to download the demo. You've indirectly paid for a demo.  Facebook, twitter? Free services on my computer, oh but wait you have to be Gold to use them on Xbox.   I love my Xbox, but man Microsoft sure knows how to screw people when they want too. "

" Expected. 
 
@Br3adfan said:

" @RHCPfan24 said:

 if anyone really uses Live, they probably have Gold.

Exactly.  Anyone with a silver account is pretty much missing out on having a 360 "

...and this. "

Silver has absolutely no features even demos screw you over by being gold exclusive now. I kind of want to re-up my subscription but through some sort of error I've still been able to play CoD WaW with my Silver account. My account got screwed up when it expired because I was in the middle of playing CoD, my profile was a little wacky for awhile then once it was all straightened out I was still able to play CoD but not other games. I'm kind of scared the free gold weekend might fix it haha.

They're also free on the uh, PC.

Expected. Don't really care either... I ALWAYS have a computer within my proximity.

 Agreed, Gold is awesome, which is why I have two accounts running on both my 360's. They would seem very dull without, I have grown very accustomed to using all the great features.

Eh, this was completely expected. These features are uninteresting to me on a console anyway.

Wait, why for Gold Members? I pay them my hard earned money every twelve months and in return, they make me suffer Twitter and Facebook crap? It should be the other way around. I bet plenty of people would pay for a Gold Membership to *avoid* having to deal with Twitter and Facebook on their videogame device.

Why would I suffer navigating and typing through xbox 360 which does not support keyboards?  I'm surprised MS has not released a proprietary keyboard at least to lessen the pain.  Although universal usb support would be nice.

" What a load of BS. I can use Twitter and Facebook free on my PC. Or even on the PlayStation 3! The Wii too, if you're willing to pay the one-time fee of $5. It makes no sense to force people to pay for Gold to use free services. "

"Do you not see the logical inconsistency in your own words?

If it is true that:

One can use Twitter and Facebook for free on your PC

Then it is not true that:

One who uses XBox Live Gold for Twitter and Facebook is being forced

Since one has the same choice you had. "

" Wait, why for Gold Members? I pay them my hard earned money every twelve months and in return, they make me suffer Twitter and Facebook crap? It should be the other way around. I bet plenty of people would pay for a Gold Membership to *avoid* having to deal with Twitter and Facebook on their videogame device. "

@Branthog said:

" Wait, why for Gold Members? I pay them my hard earned money every twelve months and in return, they make me suffer Twitter and Facebook crap? It should be the other way around. I bet plenty of people would pay for a Gold Membership to *avoid* having to deal with Twitter and Facebook on their videogame device. "

Just like you're forced to use all of Xbox Live's other features? You avoid features you don't want to use. Your browser is currently capable of using Twitter and Facebook, isn't it? But you don't use them, do you? "

" Expected. 
 
@Br3adfan said:

" @RHCPfan24 said:

 if anyone really uses Live, they probably have Gold.

Exactly.  Anyone with a silver account is pretty much missing out on having a 360 "

...and this. 
 
@Burns098356GX said:

" Its a complete cockblock if you ask me, I love how they give you Free this and free that, oh but wait, you gotta pay for a Gold service though. I think my favorite is when they have a new demo, Resident Evil 5 for example. A demo, which purpose is to entice you to buy the full game, but you had be a gold member to download the demo. You've indirectly paid for a demo.  Facebook, twitter? Free services on my computer, oh but wait you have to be Gold to use them on Xbox.   I love my Xbox, but man Microsoft sure knows how to screw people when they want too. "

I just don't understand rants like this.  We pay to have an excellent online service available to use with tons of integrated options...something that Sony has failed to do thus far.  It's the main reason why many have seen Xbox Live as being an excellent service.  For $50 a YEAR, it's almost a crime to NOT have it.  You can argue about us getting demos...but when it comes down to it, we're getting the demos EARLIER because we are paying for a service, and it's a way of showing gratitude to the people who like the service enough to pay for it. "

imo whoever wants to use facebook or twitter on the xbox is sad, you can go a gaming session without twitting or facebooking.

" Yeah, you get a choice. One is a steaming pile of crap with the advantage of being free, and the other has actual features.
Microsoft provides Live members with two options, but the only one that's worth a damn is Xbox Live Gold. Silver members don't get anything; not even access to the free Facebook and Twitter services. "

" Well, this is great.
 
Here's Microsoft's statement, from Kotaku:

Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will be free to Gold members, with a free trial period also available for Silver members. Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will offer a truly one-of-a-kind social experience, completely optimized for the TV and seamlessly integrated onto your console. Add to that exclusive access to Last.fm, Netflix instant streaming, demos, trailers and discounts, plus the best multiplayer gaming network on the planet, and we're confident Xbox LIVE Gold memberships is hands-down the best value in home entertainment. We're committed to adding new features and value for our Gold members, and will continue to do so.

  While this doesn't really affect most of us, it would have been great for Microsoft to advertise "free Twitter and Facebook integration!" - especially now that the PS3 and 360 are almost dead even in terms of price and features. I hate how Xbox Live is free, but to do almost anything with it you have to pay for gold. I love the service, and it's definitely worth it to me, but it seems like they short change some people. What do you think?  "

" Eh, this was completely expected. These features are uninteresting to me on a console anyway. "

I sure am glad that you don't have to pay ISPs for internet access to use facebook or twitter. It would be a shame to pay a service fee for a free service.

This is actually pretty good marketing for Microsoft. This way, 'free' access stays exclusive to PCs, so Windows users don't feel shortchanged, right?

" @NickNorman said:

" Well, this is great.
 
Here's Microsoft's statement, from Kotaku:

Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will be free to Gold members, with a free trial period also available for Silver members. Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will offer a truly one-of-a-kind social experience, completely optimized for the TV and seamlessly integrated onto your console. Add to that exclusive access to Last.fm, Netflix instant streaming, demos, trailers and discounts, plus the best multiplayer gaming network on the planet, and we're confident Xbox LIVE Gold memberships is hands-down the best value in home entertainment. We're committed to adding new features and value for our Gold members, and will continue to do so.

  While this doesn't really affect most of us, it would have been great for Microsoft to advertise "free Twitter and Facebook integration!" - especially now that the PS3 and 360 are almost dead even in terms of price and features. I hate how Xbox Live is free, but to do almost anything with it you have to pay for gold. I love the service, and it's definitely worth it to me, but it seems like they short change some people. What do you think?  "

worth it? when the ps3 is doing it for free? please.  "

" What a load of BS. I can use Twitter and Facebook free on my PC. Or even on the PlayStation 3! The Wii too, if you're willing to pay the one-time fee of $5. It makes no sense to force people to pay for Gold to use free services. "

" Why would I suffer navigating and typing through xbox 360 which does not support keyboards?  I'm surprised MS has not released a proprietary keyboard at least to lessen the pain.  Although universal usb support would be nice. "