Social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) will soon begin charging new users “a small fee” if they want to post content and like, reply, or bookmark tweets, according to CEO Elon Musk.
X Daily News earlier today noticed that text strings on the website have been updated to mention a small annual fee that new users will be required to pay to gain access to the social network.
Musk responded:
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.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 15, 2024
X has tested the fee in New Zealand and the Philippines, and Musk says that it will apply only to those who are new Twitter users. When a new user signs up, they will need to pay the fee or be forced to wait for three months to be able to basically do anything other than read tweets on the network.
The updated language on the Twitter site reads:
New accounts are required to pay a small annual fee before you’re able to post, like, bookmark, and reply. This is to reduce spam and create a better experience for everyone. You can still follow accounts and browse X for free.
While the text doesn’t mention being able to post for free after a three-month wait, Musk confirmed that “write actions” would be free after those three months.
That is way harder than paying a tiny fee.
This is only for new users. They will be able to do write actions for free after 3 months.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 15, 2024
Musk also said that fake accounts use up “the available namespace” limiting the “good handles.” X will “free up tens of millions in the coming weeks.”
The onslaught of fake accounts also uses up the available namespace, so many good handles are taken as a result
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 15, 2024
It remains to be seen whether the policy will put a stop to spam accounts and bots, or whether spammers will simply pay the fee or create multiple accounts and play the waiting game.
As noted by MacRumors, the fee will likely be around $1, as it costs $1.75 NZD. The pay-for-access policy has so far only been implemented in New Zealand and the Philippines.
