The move by X, formerly known as Twitter, to charge new and unverified users a $1 annual subscription fee has caused mixed reactions among users. While some have commended the platform for taking measures to reduce spam and discourage bot activities, others have expressed concern about the potential impact on the accessibility of the platform.
In its statement announcing the program, X explained that the test is aimed at reducing spam, manipulation, and bot activity on the platform. The platform also emphasized that the aim is not to generate profit, but to balance accessibility with a small fee amount. The statement read, “This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. It is not a profit driver.”
Elon Musk, the Chairman of X, further explained the reason for the annual subscription fee, noting that it would make it 1000X harder to manipulate the platform. Musk tweeted on Wednesday, “Correct, read for free, but $1/year to write. It’s the only way to fight bots without blocking real users. This won’t stop bots completely, but it will be 1000X harder to manipulate the platform.”
While the move could potentially reduce bot activities, some users are concerned about the impact on new and unverified users, especially those from low-income backgrounds. However, X has assured that the test is being conducted in only two countries, New Zealand and the Philippines, and only affects new unverified accounts. Existing users are not affected by the program.
