After much speculation, X has formally announced its plan to introduce a subscription service for new users on Twitter. Currently, this new feature, called "Not a Bot," is being tested in New Zealand and the Philippines.
As initially reported, a minimal fee of $1 USD per year is required for new users to access posting privileges under this subscription model. X has clarified that, as of October 17th, 2023, they have introduced trials of the "Not A Bot" subscription approach in these two countries. The purpose of this trial is to further strengthen their continuous efforts in countering spam, platform manipulation, and bot activity. The trial serves as an evaluation of a potentially effective tool in their fight against bots and spammers on X, while still ensuring platform accessibility through a modest fee.
In order to access core features such as tweets, retweets, bookmarks, and likes, new users will kindly be requested to verify their phone numbers and make a $1 payment. Those who choose not to pay will have limited access, allowing them to only engage with X in a "read-only" mode.
X clarified that currently, these fees will not be applicable to existing users, emphasizing that the main goal is not to generate profits. However, this initial trial may raise conjecture about X's potential intentions to introduce charges for all users. Elon Musk, during a recent live discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, subtly suggested the idea of a compulsory payment to tackle issues such as bots and spam.
Based on the support account of X, it has been noted that subscription options have demonstrated significant effectiveness when implemented on a large scale. Musk's previous remarks received varying feedback, subsequently causing a notable increase in engagement on Bluesky, the rival platform of X.
There have been reports indicating Musk's ongoing interest in acquiring users' credit card and billing information, which aligns with his broader vision of integrating banking and financial services into X. Walter Isaacson, his biographer, observed that Musk's determination to enlist subscribers was closely tied to his ambition of creating a comprehensive app. Musk expressed disappointment upon discovering that Apple does not share credit card information of iPhone sign-ups.
X has yet to respond to requests for further comment on this matter.
In conclusion, it can be observed that X's move serves as a strategic initiative to address spam and bot activity, while also potentially paving the way for future advancements in the platform's functionality. The company's approach aims to strike a balance between accessibility and a modest subscription fee. It is anticipated that the implications of this new model will be closely monitored with considerable interest.
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