Ever since Elon Musk assumed control of X (formerly Twitter), the platform has witnessed a series of controversial changes and decisions. According to a recent post by X Daily News, a reliable source, X will soon introduce a nominal fee for new users.
This information surfaced from another account that identified text strings on the website indicating the implementation of a small annual fee. This fee will limit new accounts from performing actions such as creating new posts, bookmarking, reposting, or liking others’ posts on the app. However, new users will still be able to follow other accounts and browse X without any charges.
Elon Musk, the CEO of X, confirmed this development in a reply to the thread. He stated that new accounts will be required to pay a fee to access the social media platform, citing the necessity to combat the proliferation of bots. Musk explained that, regrettably, introducing a small fee for new user write access is the only viable method to combat the continuous influx of bots. This measure is aimed at addressing the persistent issue of bot accounts, which Musk has been actively trying to tackle.
This approach has been undergoing testing in New Zealand and the Philippines as part of the “Not a Bot” program. The fee is expected to be approximately $1, though it may vary by region. Another post by Musk mentioned that new users could also opt to wait for three months, after which they would be able to create posts for free.
The introduction of this fee aims to deter the creation of bots and spam accounts, which have been significant issues on the platform. Musk noted that these accounts also occupy desirable X handles. It appears that this fee could potentially slow down the operations of bot farms, as the cost of maintaining them would increase.
However, a more effective solution might involve identifying and labeling bots when they are detected on the platform. This would help users differentiate between genuine engagements and those driven by bots. Additionally, this policy could hinder the platform’s growth by impeding the acquisition of new users. What are your thoughts on this matter? Please share them in the comments below.
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