What you want to know
- X, previously referred to as Twitter, is implementing a $1 annual subscription for brand new customers in New Zealand and the Philippines in an effort to scale back spam, manipulation, and bot exercise on the platform.
- New customers in these international locations may also want to confirm their accounts with a cellphone quantity, although the subscription is just for new customers becoming a member of through the net.
- Users who choose out of subscribing will solely give you the chance to view content material, not work together with it.
X (previously Twitter) is implementing a $1 annual charge for brand new customers in New Zealand and the Philippines, and those that refuse to pay can be restricted to spectator mode—unable to put up, reply, repost, quote, bookmark, and even like content material on the net.
The new subscription methodology requires new customers to pay up yearly to unlock all of the web site’s core options, however those that are already on the platform can keep utilizing it without cost. Otherwise, you may be caught with a “read-only” account, solely ready to view posts, watch movies, and observe accounts.
Correct, learn without cost, however $1/yr to write. It’s the solely manner to combat bots with out blocking actual customers.This received’t cease bots fully, however it is going to be 1000X tougher to manipulate the platform.October 18, 2023
Last month, throughout a live-streamed dialog about AI with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk hinted at introducing a paid mannequin to sort out bots and spam, so this new subscription charge is not precisely a shock.
“This new check was developed to bolster our already important efforts to scale back spam, manipulation of our platform and bot exercise,” the firm stated in a support page. “This will consider a probably highly effective measure to assist us fight bots and spammers on X, whereas balancing platform accessibility with the small charge quantity.”
X’s support team made it clear that this “Not A Bot” initiative is not about making a living, however moderately about hunting down pretend accounts. As a part of the program, new customers will want to confirm their cellphone numbers.
This new subscription methodology comes as well as to X’s present subscription plans, together with the $8 month-to-month X Premium (previously Twitter Blue) and the $1000 month-to-month Verified Organization plan.
Although this new subscription mannequin is solely being examined in two international locations for now, it is sure to fire up rumors that X may finally cost everybody. Even if it is simply a small charge, the considered paying for one thing that used to be free may drive some folks away from the platform as an alternative of bringing them in.