By Julie Clover
Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) will soon start charging new users a “small fee” to post content, like, reply to, and bookmark tweets, according to Elon Musk.
X Daily News, a channel that publishes X updates, noticed today that text lines on the website have been updated, to mention the small annual fee that new users will have to pay to gain access to the social network.
In response, Musk said that the fee for new users is “the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.”
The board has previously been tested in New Zealand and the Philippines, and Musk says it only applies to first-time Twitter users. When a new user registers, they will need to pay a fee or wait three months to be able to participate in the network. Updated text on Twitter:
New accounts require a small annual fee before you can post, like, bookmark, and reply. This is to reduce spam and create a better experience for everyone. You can still follow accounts and view X for free.
The text doesn't mention being able to post for free after three months, but Musk confirmed that there will be “writing activities” after that free. period of time.
It is unclear how this policy will stop spam accounts and bots, since spammers will be able to pay a fee or simply create multiple accounts and wait for an opportunity to post. Meanwhile, regular users may not be advised to use X due to the extra step and the fact that other social networks are free.
The fee is around US$1, and in New Zealand it costs NZ$1.75 dollar. The pay-per-access policy has not yet been implemented outside of New Zealand and the Philippines.
Musk said fake accounts also exploit the “available namespace,” limiting “good handles.” X has so far released more than a million usernames and will “release tens of millions in the coming weeks.”
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