X, in its continuous efforts to combat spam, manipulation, and bot activity, has introduced a new initiative called the “Not A Bot” subscription method. This program, which is currently undergoing testing in New Zealand and the Philippines. It aims to strike a balance between accessibility and a nominal fee for new users.
Elon Musk has been an open critic of X’s (then Twitter) previous struggles with handling automated accounts. Interestingly, as he now navigates similar challenges with his own venture, he is presented with the complexity of this issue firsthand.
How “Not A Bot” Functions
New users can choose to enroll in the “Not A Bot” program for an annual fee of $1 USD. This grants them access to interactive features on the web version of the platform. This includes the ability to create and engage with content, from posting and liking to replying, reposting, and quoting other users’ posts. Moreover, they can conveniently bookmark posts for future reference. Those who choose not to subscribe can still participate in “read-only” activities like browsing posts, viewing videos, and following accounts.
Conclusion.
X emphasized that the current fees are not intended to generate profit and will not affect existing users. Nevertheless, this initial trial will undoubtedly spark discussions about the possibility of implementing charges for all users in the future. This notion was hinted at by Elon Musk during a recent live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, where he indicated contemplation of a mandatory payment system as a measure to combat bots and spam.
Already, some users are on edge, having expressed their preference to delete their X accounts rather than pay for features that were previously provided for free.
