Twitter (X) introduces fees for new users: Elon Musk's move to combat spam

Twitter, now known as X, formerly a free social media platform, will soon introduce fees for new users. Elon Musk announced that newcomers will be required to pay a "small" fee for actions like liking, posting, and bookmarking tweets. 

New policy to combat spam

The account X Daily News first reported this change, noting that the website's text now indicates new users must pay a yearly fee for access.According to X Daily News, this fee policy was tested in New Zealand and the Philippines to combat spam and improve user experience. Musk explained that the fee for writing access is necessary to combat the onslaught of bots, which can easily pass bot verification tests. He highlighted that fake accounts also deplete available usernames, making it difficult for genuine users to secure their desired handles.

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Concerns and solutions

Musk's move aims to tackle spam bots, but the details of X's plan to prevent fake accounts and bots remain undisclosed. There's a concern that spammers may simply pay the fee or create multiple accounts to bypass restrictions. This could potentially deter normal users from joining X, as the signup process becomes more involved compared to other free social networks.

The fee is estimated to be around $1, as it translates to $1.75 in New Zealand currency. Currently, this pay-to-use model is active only in New Zealand and the Philippines.Musk has been vocal about combating spam and bots on Twitter, criticizing the platform's advertising-driven model for contributing to the prevalence of inauthentic accounts. He has expressed concerns that Twitter's reported user numbers might be inflated due to bots, misleading advertisers and investors.

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