New X users may need to pay an annual fee to post on platform: Elon Musk
Elon Musk plans to introduce paid posting on X (formerly Twitter) to combat bots. Users pay to post, like, bookmark.
Elon Musk has been exploring the notion of transforming X, previously known as Twitter, into a subscription-based service for some time now. Last year, during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the billionaire proposed that charging a nominal fee could effectively mitigate the proliferation of bot armies on the platform.
Musk highlighted that the operational cost of a bot is only a fraction of a penny, but introducing even a modest fee could significantly increase their expenses. Moreover, requiring a new payment method for each bot account creation would add further obstacles for bot operators.
Recently, Musk confirmed plans to implement a small fee for new users wishing to post on the platform. He also acknowledged that current AI technologies can easily circumvent traditional "you’re a robot" tests. A code snippet discovered by Chris Messina indicates that new unverified users will need to pay an annual fee before gaining access to certain features such as liking, bookmarking, and replying to posts.
Unfortunately, a small fee for new user write access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 15, 2024
Current AI (and troll farms) can pass “are you a bot” with ease.
Users unwilling to pay the fee will still have the ability to read posts and follow other accounts, and those opting out of payment will gain posting privileges after three months. However, Musk has not yet disclosed the timeline or the exact amount users will need to pay for posting, liking, and bookmarking.
In October of the previous year, following his discussion with Netanyahu, Musk initiated the 'Not A Bot' program, requiring new users to pay a $1 fee to engage with posts. Although this fee experiment was implemented in New Zealand and the Philippines, its effectiveness in deterring bots from the platform remains uncertain.
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