Elon Musk, the visionary behind X, has proposed charging new users a small fee for posting. This strategy was revealed in response to an X account discussing changes on the website. Musk emphasized that this fee is the “only way” to combat the “onslaught of bots.”
AI and troll farms can easily bypass the “Are you a bot” checks, including tools like CAPTCHA. This has led to more bot activity on the platform, disrupting the user experience and challenging the platform’s integrity.
The policy’s exact details are undisclosed. But it’s like X‘s old approach. Last October, X began charging a $1 annual fee to new unverified users in certain regions. These regions include New Zealand and the Philippines. These users could read posts. But, they had to pay to post, like, reply, bookmark, and quote. It’s speculated that Musk might apply a similar fee structure for new users globally.
Elon Musk confirms that Twitter/X will start charging new users a “small fee” before they can post, reply, like or bookmark during the first three months — in an effort to combat bots. PIC.TWITTER.COM/EIUSY23XPY
— Pop Base (@PopBase) APRIL 15, 2024
X has also been evident. They use public posts to train machine learning and AI models. Charging new users is a recent move. It is another step to improve the user experience and reduce spam. As we await further specifics, it’s clear that Musk is determined to keep X bot-free and user-friendly.
As Musk later added, the fee proves to be a non-permanent measure. After three months of creation, you can post new accounts without a fee. This is while responding to another user. This suggests the cost is more to check new users’ authenticity. It is not a long-term way to make money.
Forbes reports that Musk’s fee is like one imposed on new users in the Philippines and New Zealand. This happened last October as part of X’s “Not a Bot” initiative. This program required new accounts to pay an annual fee of $1. They needed it to post, like, comment, and do other things. Less than two weeks have passed since X started the platform’s bot purge. Musk threatened to sue anyone in charge of bot accounts. Accordingly, X alerted its users to the possibility of a drop in the number of followers they may have.
This endeavor will come soon after X has appointed new members to its safety team. Kylie McRoberts is a longtime X employee. She has been named Head of Safety. Yale Cohen, who used to work at Publicis Media, has joined as Head of Brand Safety and Advertiser Solutions. Kylie McRoberts is now in charge of X’s safety initiatives. She has played a vital role in making platform safety rules stronger. Her contributions include strengthening security features, creating an Austin Safety Center of Excellence, and improving the openness of moderation processes.
Remember, you can still follow accounts and browse X without paying fees. So, whether you’re a human or a bot, happy X-ing! 🚀
