Elon Musk Implements $1 Annual Fee to Combat Spam Bots on X
In an effort to combat automated spam bot accounts, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, has introduced a $1 annual fee for new users. This fee will unlock basic features such as posting and sharing content on the social media site. Musk claims that this move is the “only way” to effectively address the issue of bots.
The test, called “Not a Bot,” was launched in New Zealand and the Philippines last Tuesday, requiring new users in those countries to verify their phone numbers and pay the fee in order to have the ability to post, interact with other users, or bookmark posts on X.
Musk stated, “It’s the only way to fight bots without blocking real users. This won’t completely eliminate bots, but it will significantly increase the difficulty of manipulating the platform.”
Existing X users will not be affected by this test. However, new accounts that choose not to pay the $1 annual fee will only have access to reading posts, watching videos, and following other accounts.
The social media site’s account clarified that the new fee is not intended to generate profits for the company. Instead, it aims to further reduce spam, manipulation, and bot activity on the platform, while maintaining accessibility through a small fee amount.
This fee test is just one of the controversial moves made by Musk since his acquisition of X for $44 billion last fall. These moves include rebranding the platform and implementing more relaxed content moderation practices.
In recent weeks, Musk has sparked controversy by concealing headlines and text from news articles and endorsing accounts known for their biases during Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
Despite Musk’s explanation for the fee test, some X users remain skeptical. Professor Donald Moynihan of Georgetown University sarcastically commented, “Hi. Just $1 to use Twitter. Go ahead and trust me with your financial information,” along with a photo of Musk.
Molly White, a cryptocurrency researcher and critic, claimed that X was transitioning from “free speech” to “paying $1 for speech” for its users.
Adam Cochran, a partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, dismissed the effectiveness of the fee by stating, “Lol bots are already paying $8/month or sometimes even $1000/month for verified or corporate accounts. They sure as f–k won’t care about $1/year.”
Musk’s business endeavors extend beyond X and include Tesla and SpaceX. He aims to transform X into a subscription-focused platform after experiencing a significant decline in ad revenue.
According to Reuters, X CEO Linda Yaccarino shared plans to test a three-tiered subscription service for users during a recent meeting with the company’s bank lenders. In spite of X’s challenges, both Musk and Yaccarino have expressed optimism about the company’s profitability in the near future.
Currently, X charges its premium subscribers $8 per month for additional features like account verification and the ability to post longer tweets and videos.
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