Elon Musk Trials $1 Annual Fee for Access to X
Elon Musk has initiated a test to determine whether users are prepared to pay $1 per year for access to the X platform. X, formerly known as Twitter, has acknowledged that it has begun charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1 a year. New users in these locations must have a subscription to utilize essential platform functions such as publishing, responding, or quoting posts. The latest price went into effect when X Support said,
“Starting today, we’re testing a new program (Not-a-Bot) in New Zealand and the Philippines. New, unverified accounts will be required to sign up for a $1 annual subscription to post and interact with other posts. Within this test, existing users are not affected.”
Earlier this year, there were rumors that Elon Musk, the owner of X, might charge a tiny fee to use the platform. Fortune’s report appeared to confirm the impending global change, pending the outcome of X’s test. The company’s $13 billion debt notwithstanding, they expressly noted that they did not intend this decision to boost profitability.
According to X, “test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform, and bot activity while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. It is not a profit driver.”
Twitter’s Musk-Backed Plan: Subscription vs. Bots
Musk has been concerned about bot activity on the platform even before acquiring Twitter. He has often stated that charging membership fees may be the most efficient approach to tackle bot activity. Subscriptions, he stressed, are “the only way to fight bots without blocking real users.”
The article by X Support backs up Musk’s assertions regarding subscriptions that they will successfully curb bot activity. It emphasized that subscription options are the most successful strategy at scale. However, some experts are concerned that membership costs may attract fraudsters since subscribers’ tweets acquire a greater spotlight. For the “Not-a-Bot” test on X, new Philippines and New Zealand users must verify their phone numbers and pay a $1 annual fee. Non-paying users will have limited access to X, enabling them to read tweets, watch videos, and follow accounts.
The test duration is indefinite, and X’s terms and conditions permit program changes or cancellation at any time without reimbursement.
