Elon Musk, the tech mogul who acquired the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is introducing more charges for users.
This comes after he already faced criticism for charging a monthly fee for verified accounts with a blue tick. The new subscription model is called “Not A Bot,” aimed at reducing spam and bot activity on the platform.
Last year, Musk purchased the platform and has since implemented several changes, including the controversial blue tick fee. Despite threats from users to boycott the app if more fees were introduced, Musk has gone ahead with his new subscription plan. “I would not pay just to use the Twitter app,” said one disgruntled user online, echoing the sentiments of many.
According to a release on the X website, “As of October 17th, 2023, we’ve started testing ‘Not A Bot,’ a new subscription method for new users in two countries.” The test is currently being conducted in New Zealand and the Philippines. Users in these countries will have to verify their phone numbers and opt to pay an annual fee of $1 USD to perform certain actions on the platform, such as posting content and liking posts. The fee varies from country to country; for instance, New Zealand users will have to pay $1.43 NZD per year.
The new subscription model has received mixed reviews. While some criticize Musk for “killing the platform,” others see it as a positive step towards reducing spam and bot accounts. “That’s a great step forward in reducing spam and bot accounts,” commented one user in favor of the new fees.
It remains unclear when or if these new fees will be rolled out to other countries, but it’s evident that Musk is unafraid to shake things up, for better or worse.
