Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X, is considering introducing a paywall for new users in an effort to combat spam bots. Musk argues that charging a small fee for new accounts is the only way to stop the onslaught of bots, as current AI and troll farms can easily pass anti-spam tests like CAPTCHA. If implemented, new users who choose not to pay the fee would have to wait three months before being able to post on the platform.
This potential move comes after X announced a proactive initiative to tackle spam accounts earlier this month, warning users that their follower count might be affected. Complaints regarding pervasive bots on X have been on the rise since Musk’s purchase of Twitter and its rebranding as X.
This is not the first time Musk has floated the idea of charging a fee for platform use. Last October, he conducted an experiment in New Zealand and the Philippines, charging a $1 per year fee for new unverified X users to interact with posts. This experiment aimed to reduce spam bots and manipulation on the platform, and according to X’s official support account, subscription options have proven to be the main solution that works at scale.
During a live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk emphasized the need for a small monthly payment to combat vast armies of bots. He explained that even if a bot has to pay a few dollars to create a new automated account, the effective cost of bots becomes very high.
X currently offers one premium subscription plan priced at $8 per month or $84 per year. This plan provides various features such as the ability to write longer posts, edit posts, see fewer ads, and be prioritized in search and conversations. However, there are indications that X will introduce a tiered subscription system with different price tags, splitting the current $8 premium subscription into basic, standard, and plus plans.
Although the timeline for implementing these changes is unclear, code found in the X app suggests the existence of future Premium Basic, Premium Standard, and Premium Plus plans, each offering different levels of ad exposure.
In conclusion, Elon Musk is contemplating introducing a paywall for new users on X as a measure to combat spam bots. This move follows earlier efforts by X to tackle spam accounts and complaints about pervasive bots on the platform. Musk believes that charging a small fee is necessary to stop the influx of bots, and previous experiments have shown that subscription options can effectively reduce bot activity. While X currently offers one premium subscription plan, there are indications that it will introduce a tiered system in the future.
