In a groundbreaking move, Twitter, which is now rebranded as X, is looking to charge some users for basic functionalities such as liking, posting, replying, and bookmarking tweets. This marks a departure from the platform’s traditional free-access model, with Musk saying that charging new users a small fee to post was a necessary move as it could prevent bots from taking over the platform. He highlighted the ineffectiveness of traditional anti-bot measures, such as CAPTCHA tools, given the emergence of sophisticated AI and troll farms. However, he did go to say that new accounts could post without fees after three months, potentially easing concerns for those unwilling to pay immediately.
The decision stems from a series of tests conducted in New Zealand and the Philippines, where X aimed to combat spam and elevate user experience. These inauthentic entities not only undermine the platform’s integrity but also monopolize valuable usernames, limiting availability for genuine users. Despite these considerations, the current fee is set at $1, reflecting the platform’s commitment to accessibility while ensuring sustainable growth.
This strategic shift underscores Musk’s broader concerns about user metrics accuracy and the adverse effects of bot infiltration on X’s advertising ecosystem. He has previously voiced skepticism about inflated user counts driven by bots, cautioning against the misleading portrayal of engagement levels to advertisers and investors.
Moreover, Musk’s influence extends beyond X, with his introduction of paid verified blue checkmarks paving the way for similar initiatives on other platforms like Instagram. This trend highlights the ripple effect of innovative policies in the competitive landscape of social media.
