X will require $1 annual fee to post and like on its platform

Following weeks of speculation, X has revealed its intention to charge new users for the service formerly known as Twitter. The business revealed information on a new subscription service dubbed "Not a Bot," which is now being tested in New Zealand and the Philippines.

The subscription compels new users to pay the equivalent of $1 USD every year in order to post. "As of October 17th, 2023 we've started testing 'Not A Bot,' a new subscription method for new users in two countries," X says. "This new test was created to supplement our already significant efforts to reduce spam, platform manipulation, and bot activity. This will assess a potentially significant measure that will assist us in combating bots and spammers on X while balancing platform accessibility with the little cost amount.”

New users will be asked to authenticate their phone numbers and pay a $1 charge to utilize basic functions like as tweets, retweets, bookmarks, and likes under the program. Those who do not pay will be able to use X only in "read only" mode.

For the time being, the costs will not apply to existing users, according to the corporation. "It is not a profit driver," X stated.

However, the inaugural test will almost certainly fuel suspicion that X intends to charge all users one day. Elon Musk hinted last month during a livestreamed chat with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was considering some type of required payment as part of an attempt to combat bots and spam.

"Subscription options have proven to be the main solution that works at scale," X noted in a support account post. Musk's previous statements were controversial, and activity on X competitor Bluesky increased as a result.

Others have suggested that Musk has long wanted access to customers' credit card and billing information, which would help him with his desire to bring banking and other financial services to X. According to his biographer, Walter Isaacson, Musk's desire to sign up subscribers was entwined with his goal to make a "everything app," and Musk became enraged when he discovered Apple did not disclose credit card information of individuals who sign up with their iPhones.