X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk and previously known as Twitter, is considering implementing an annual fee for new users seeking to engage with its features. In a statement made on Monday, Musk articulated that this initiative aims to mitigate the influx of spam on the platform. Though details remain sparse, reports suggest users might encounter a recurring fee for basic functionalities such as posting, liking, replying, and bookmarking content.
The announcement came in response to a post by @xDaily, an account that focuses on X-related news, which highlighted findings from a code tracker indicating that new users may soon require a subscription fee to contribute to the platform. The informant, @xUpdatesRadar, claimed to have discovered this information within the code strings of X’s web interface. Musk commented on the speculation, stating, “Unfortunately, a small fee for new user write access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots. Current AI (and troll farms) can pass ‘are you a bot?’ with ease.”
The onslaught of fake accounts also uses up the available namespace, so many good handles are taken.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 15, 2024
The initial findings outlined how this potential policy might function. According to one section of text, “New accounts are required to pay a small annual fee before you’re able to post, like, bookmark, and reply. This is to reduce spam and to create a better experience for everyone. You can still follow accounts and browse X for free.” There are indications that the company previously trialed this subscription model in countries such as New Zealand and the Philippines.
While the primary justification for this initiative appears centered around spam reduction, Musk also highlighted another concern regarding the saturation of fake accounts, remarking, “The onslaught of fake accounts also uses up the available namespace, so many good handles are taken.”
The announcement has elicited a range of reactions from users. Some expressed understanding, deeming the strategy “unfortunate but necessary” given the prevalence of bot accounts disrupting popular discussions. Conversely, others raised doubts about the efficacy of the approach. One concerned user noted, “Bot farmers have money, as do professional trolls and influence operators. If anything, they’re more likely to be willing to pay than authentic users because this is literally their income stream.”
