X (formerly Twitter) Announces Subscription Fee for New Users

What is Elon Musk planning now? The tech guru, who has previously purchased Twitter and rebranded it as X, has now announced a new approach to the social media app. From not being able to access the app without an account, to even removing the verified mark from every account unless you pay for it. Additionally, however, there have been recent developments and X (formerly Twitter) announced subscription fees for the Philippines and New Zealand. Why is the fee necessary and what does Elon Musk have to say about the advancement of X? Let us find out together.

X (formerly Twitter) Announces Subscription Fee

X, the platform previously known as Twitter, has introduced a $1 annual fee for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines. This decision is a response to combatting the issue of bots on the platform. This subscription plan, which provides access to fundamental features like tweeting, replying, retweeting, and liking, was initially reported by Fortune. Subsequently, X revealed the details of this new initiative.

On October 17th, 2023, X, the former Twitter, initiated testing of “Not A Bot,” a novel subscription approach for new users in two countries. This test aims to enhance their ongoing efforts to combat spam, platform manipulation, and bot activities.

What Is the Idea Behind the Subscription Fee?

To combat bots and spammers on X, the platform has initiated a test in New Zealand and the Philippines. New users in these countries are required to verify their phone numbers and pay a $1 annual fee to access posting, liking, replying, reposting, quoting posts, and bookmarking. Users who choose not to subscribe can only engage in “read-only” actions, such as reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts.

The price at the time of reporting is approximately NZ$1.43 and 42.51 Philippine pesos. This program aims to protect the platform from manipulation and disruptions caused by bots and spammers. It’s described as a beta program in the terms and conditions, and users must agree to a recurring subscription payment.

X tweeted: “New users who opt out of subscribing will only be able to take ‘read-only’ actions, such as: read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts. This new program aims to defend against bots and spammers who attempt to manipulate the platform and disrupt the experience of other X users. We look forward to sharing more about the results soon.”

Elon Musk’s Comments on This

Elon Musk initially discussed the idea of charging all users in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the current plan is limited to new users. The aim is to deter bot operators by increasing the cost of creating accounts from a fraction of a penny to a few dollars. This would also require bot creators to use new payment methods for each new account. Despite the introduction of X premium blue tick product, priced at $11 a month in the US, £11 in the UK, and A$19, scammers have continued to target users on the platform.

This move to charge new users is part of Musk’s broader strategy to explore alternative sources of revenue beyond advertising. Additionally, to make X an all-encompassing app, including payment services. Musk cites a 60% decline in ad revenue due to advertiser boycotts and concerns about the platform’s handling of inappropriate or hateful content.

Do you agree with Elon Musk’s decision? Or do you think Twitter was better off without his influence? Let us know below!

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