New Delhi: Elon Musk has announced plans to potentially introduce a nominal fee for new users of X, formerly known as Twitter, as a measure to address the proliferation of automated accounts or “bots.” Musk highlighted the ease with which current AI technology, along with troll farms, can bypass conventional bot detection measures. While specifics regarding the fee amount and implementation timeline remain undisclosed, Musk mentioned that this measure would be effective for a three-month period. Under this proposed system, new users would be able to access the platform without charge but would be restricted from creating content, posting tweets, liking posts, or bookmarking content unless they pay the fee.
This concept mirrors a similar initiative launched in October in New Zealand and the Philippines, where unverified new users were required to pay a yearly fee of €0.94 to engage with posts. As of now, X’s only paid features are reserved for premium subscribers, offering access to the monetization program, an ad-free experience, interaction with X’s generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbot, and increased reply visibility.
Musk’s concern over the prevalence of bots on Twitter dates back to his acquisition of the platform in late 2022, with a commitment to addressing the issue. However, experts note that the bot problem has since worsened and is now being driven by AI technology. This trend has coincided with a significant decline in the platform’s user base, particularly in the United States, since November 2022. Consequently, the company has experienced a decrease in its advertising revenues, leading to a decline in its overall market value.
