Elon Musk's X Trials $1 Annual 'Not A Bot' Subscription, Aims to Combat Spam and Bots
- Posted on October 18, 2023
- Technology
- By Arijit Dutta
- 296 Views
In a groundbreaking move, Elon Musk's social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, has unveiled its plan to trial a unique $1 annual subscription model aimed at enhancing user experience while tackling the persistent issue of bots and spammers. The new subscription, humorously named "Not A Bot," will revolutionize the way users interact on the platform.
In a groundbreaking move, Elon Musk's social media
platform X, previously known as Twitter, has unveiled its plan to trial a
unique $1 annual subscription model aimed at enhancing user experience while
tackling the persistent issue of bots and spammers. The new subscription,
humorously named "Not A Bot," will revolutionize the way users
interact on the platform.
The "Not A Bot" subscription model intends to
charge users a modest $1 annual fee for access to basic features such as
liking, reposting, quoting other accounts' posts, and bookmarking posts on the
web version of the platform. These features have historically been targets for
spammers and automated bot accounts, making this initiative an innovative
approach to maintaining the platform's authenticity.
X acknowledges that the subscription fee may vary from
country to country, adjusted based on the exchange rate, ensuring accessibility
and affordability worldwide. The initial testing phase for the "Not A
Bot" subscription will be rolled out to users in New Zealand and the
Philippines.
Crucially, existing users will not be impacted during this experimental phase. They can continue to enjoy the platform as they always have. However, new users who choose not to subscribe to the "Not A Bot" model will be limited to viewing and reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts.
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Bots have been a persistent concern for Elon Musk, who
acquired the platform last year. In a bid to ensure the authenticity of the
user base, X had previously implemented restrictions on tweet views in July.
This new subscription model is another step in this ongoing battle against spam
and automated accounts.
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that X's CEO, Linda Yaccarino, met with the platform's lenders. During the meeting, she disclosed the company's intention to test three subscription tiers, each based on the number of ads shown to the user. This move indicates X's commitment to diversifying its revenue streams while preserving the quality of user interactions on the platform.