X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has recently unveiled plans to implement a nominal fee for its users. Elon Musk, the CEO of X, announced the platform’s intention to charge a small fee as part of its efforts to combat spam and reduce bot activity.
This initiative is now taking shape, with the introduction of the “Not a Bot” program, a subscription method aimed at enhancing platform security.
The “Not a Bot” program is currently in the testing phase and will require new users in two countries, New Zealand and the Philippines, to pay a mere $1 per year for access to the platform. The primary goal of this experiment is to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in reducing spam, manipulation, and bot-related issues on X.
Existing users on X will not be impacted by this testing phase. If you already have an X account and reside in one of the two test countries, you will not be required to pay the $1/year fee. It remains to be seen if these terms will remain the same when X eventually rolls out the paid subscription program on a broader scale.
For new accounts created in New Zealand and the Philippines, an initial verification step will be necessary, which involves linking a phone number to the account. Following this verification, users will have three subscription options to choose from:
1. **The $1/year Not-a-Bot Plan:** Subscribers to this tier will have access to various actions on the platform’s web version, including posting content, liking posts, replying, reposting, quoting other posts, and bookmarking posts.
2. **X Premium:** This subscription tier is expected to offer additional features and benefits beyond the basic functionalities.
3. **Verified Organizations Plan:** Designed for organizations and businesses, this tier will likely provide tools for brand management and communication.
Users who opt for the “Not-a-Bot” program can cancel their subscription at any time, ensuring flexibility for those who wish to explore the full range of X’s offerings.
As X takes steps to combat spam and improve the overall user experience, the “Not a Bot” program represents one of the innovative strategies being employed to achieve this goal. It remains to be seen how this experiment will impact user interactions on the platform and whether it will be expanded to a wider audience in the future.
