Elon Musk Plans to Charge $1 Per Year for X's New User Access

X (Twitter) owner Elon Musk has introduced a novel initiative to combat bots and encourage genuine users to join the platform. The "Not a Bot" program, currently in testing in New Zealand and the Philippines, requires all new users to pay a modest $1 annual fee for various Twitter functionalities.

The Two-Tiered Approach:

Under this program, new users must complete two steps to access Twitter: they need to verify their phone number and subscribe to an annual plan.

Twitter retains its "Premium" package with a blue checkmark feature for $8 per month.

Additionally, there's a new tier priced at $1 per year, granting users the ability to post content, like posts, reply, repost, quote other posts, and bookmark tweets.

Those who opt not to pay will have limited functionality, being restricted to "read only" activities like viewing posts, watching videos, and following accounts.

Combatting Bots and Spam:

Twitter's announcement states that the "Not a Bot" program is designed to counter bots and spammers attempting to manipulate the platform and disrupt the user experience. While the impact of a $1 annual fee is questioned, it appears to be a superficial anti-spam measure.

User Perspective and Value:

The question arises whether users, particularly casual ones, will accept the inconvenience of a subscription fee for a service that was once free. Twitter's reputation has been tarnished in recent times due to a flood of spam, disinformation, and nonsense.

For some, the fee may be seen as a statement of value, and $1 per year might not seem worth it.


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Future Expansion and Implications:

As of now, the program applies only to new accounts, and there's no official indication that existing users will be required to pay.

However, the statement, "existing users are not affected within this test," suggests that this might change if the program proves successful. If this happens, it could mark a significant turning point for Twitter, with the future of the platform hanging in the balance.

Conclusion:

The effectiveness of Elon Musk's approach to addressing Twitter's spam issue remains to be seen. While the platform's quality and usability have declined, applying a fee as a first step may not necessarily be the right solution.

The success of this new initiative will be closely watched, and the fate of Twitter may ultimately depend on its outcome.