Charging Users to access X (formerly twitter)?!

X (formerly known as Twitter) has unveiled a new initiative called "Not A Bot," aimed at combatting spam and bot activity on their platform. Under this program, new users are required to pay a modest annual subscription fee of $1 ($1 more than any other social media platform out there), granting them the ‘privilege’ to post and interact with content. Those who opt not to subscribe will be limited to read-only access. The primary objective of this fee, X have stated, is to curtail spam and maintain platform integrity, rather than generating profits.

Not A Bot is currently in beta testing and is designed as a subscription plan for new users. In the testing phase, users in the Philippines and New Zealand are selected for participation. To enroll, new users must verify their phone numbers and then proceed to pay the $1 fee to engage with others on X.

So, why is this happening?

The ultimate goal of the Not A Bot program is to “identify and eliminate bots and reduce spam", ensuring the platform's health in a scalable manner”. It's important to note that this program is currently in beta, typically indicating public testing, with no mention in the announcement regarding its permanent implementation pending successful tests.

According to the new Terms and Conditions page, participants in the Not A Bot program are obligated to accept that they won't be entitled to a refund if the program is terminated. X retains the discretion to determine the features and functionality of the program and may modify, pause, or discontinue it at any time without offering refunds.

Not A Bot subscribers gain access to features that are otherwise free, including bookmarking posts, liking posts, posting content, replying to posts, and reposting or quoting posts from other accounts. Non-subscribers, on the other hand, are restricted to following other members, reading tweets, and watching videos.

Breaking the news

In the official announcement, it's clarified that this testing phase is being conducted in New Zealand and the Philippines, affecting only new, unverified accounts. Existing users remain unaffected. The intent is to further combat spam, manipulation, and bot activity while keeping the subscription fee at a minimum to maintain platform accessibility.

The response to this announcement has been mixed, with some users questioning the efficacy of the program, as bots and scammers already pay a higher monthly fee for access. Others have noted that the verification process and payment might deter bot farmers who create numerous accounts. The true success of the program remains to be seen.

A larger question looms regarding whether X will stick with this and if so, will they expand this program globally if the initial tests prove successful. Only time will tell…