Newcomers to X won’t be fans of Elon Musk’s recent proposal. Now, they must pay a fee if they wish to post or retweet messages. This is their strategy to deter bots.
It’s well-known that X is overrun with bots (automated fake accounts), a problem that’s worsened with the advent of AI, as bots now generate more convincing messages than before.
Elon Musk believes imposing a “minimal fee” on all new X users will help reduce bot activity.
Elon Musk replied: “Unfortunately, a small fee for new user write access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots. Current AI (and troll farms) can pass “Are you a bot” with ease.”
With advancements in artificial intelligence, bots are increasingly capable of passing tests designed to verify human identity, allowing them to continue infiltrating X.
It seems this fee is solely for posting messages. Just reading posts and following users remains free.
The X user @xUpdatesRadar was the first to spot the changes, followed by @xDaily, to whom Elon Musk replied and confirmed the changes. A user with the handle @swak_12 has published a screenshot of what the payment requirement interface looks like:
So, what will this fee, sarcastically named “Not A Bot,” cost new users of X? It will likely be one dollar annually.
X has already piloted this in the Philippines and New Zealand, charging a dollar annually, and it seems successful. They now plan to implement it globally.
Elon Musk believes that charging new accounts, even just one dollar, will decrease the number of bots.
However, according to user comments, the solution isn’t so clear-cut. Some bots, which earn thousands of dollars monthly through scams, ads, selling likes, and tracking users, won’t mind the fee. Numerous bots already hold the blue and gold Premium account badges, which cost more than one dollar.
Others argue that this measure will only deter real people, potentially reducing the influx of new X users.
When Elon Musk acquired Twitter, he vowed to tackle the bot issue. It’s a tough challenge, indeed. However, imposing a fee on all new X users may not be the most effective solution. Time will tell how effective this strategy will be…
