The former Twitter, X is testing a $1 per tweet and retweet fee for new users

The former Twitter, X is testing a $1 per tweet and retweet fee for new users
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In order to “post & interact with other posts,” X, formerly known as Twitter, will start a pilot where new users must pay $1 annually.

The social networking site stated Tuesday night that the action is part of its attempts to fend off spam and bot activity. The company’s “Not A Bot” initiative, which includes the annual membership, will initially be tested in New Zealand and the Philippines.

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Elon Musk had previously stated that the switch to a subscription pricing model would occur in September. X said that the adjustments don’t affect profits.

Users will only be able to view posts and follow accounts if they are unable or unwilling to pay the annual charge, according to the business. Since well before he acquired the business in October 2022, Musk has consistently used the issue of excessive bot activity as a rallying point.

As part of his efforts to withdraw from the legally binding $44 billion acquisition contract, he first asserted that Twitter, as the company was then known, was underreporting the number of bots on the platform. Numerous specialists refuted the assertion, which was supported by analysis.

According to reports, under Musk’s control, bot activity has gotten worse. The social media platform, which is widely regarded as an essential component of disaster response infrastructure and a crucial tool for news gathering, has undergone significant transformation as a result of many decisions made by Musk.

Early on, as part of a larger cost-cutting push, Musk ordered modifications to the way users are verified, phasing out the notability standards in favor of a paid model and reducing the trust and safety teams.

Prior to now, unaffiliated researchers have discovered a sizable number of bot accounts that promote cryptocurrencies and raise their prices. Numerous users have expressed dissatisfaction with the platform’s decline, although rivals like Bluesky, Meta’s Threads, or Mastodon have not yet developed into significant rivals.

When the paid subscription will be available everywhere is unknown.

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