X, formerly known as Twitter, has recently launched a new subscription program in New Zealand and the Philippines. This program, called “Not A Bot,” aims to combat spam, manipulation, and bot activity on the platform. Users joining X via its website in these two countries will now be required to pay a nominal fee of $1 per year to use the service. Additionally, new web users in New Zealand and the Philippines will have to verify their accounts using a phone number.
While the announcement of a subscription program may come as a surprise to many, it seems that X has identified an issue with bot activity and fake accounts originating from these regions. By charging a small fee for new users joining via the website, X hopes to deter individuals from creating multiple fake accounts. This move may explain why the $1 subscription is only applicable for new web users and not those joining through the mobile app.
According to X, new users who choose not to subscribe will have limited functionalities. These users will only be able to engage in “read-only” actions such as viewing posts and watching videos. This restriction may encourage more users to opt for the subscription, ultimately reducing the prevalence of spam and bot activity.
Interestingly, the terms and conditions for the “Not A Bot” program state that users can also subscribe through X’s iOS and Android apps. However, the main post on X’s help center specifically mentions web users. This discrepancy raises questions about the availability and implementation of the subscription across different platforms.
Elon Musk, the prominent figure behind X, has advocated for charging users as a means to combat bot armies. Despite the expectation that only a small percentage of users will actually pay for the subscription, Musk believes that imposing a fee will deter the creation and operation of fake accounts. Interestingly, Musk has also recently boasted about the high engagement levels on X, suggesting that charging has not negatively impacted user activity.
X’s introduction of the $1 subscription program in New Zealand and the Philippines marks another step towards tackling spam, manipulation, and bot activity on the platform. By implementing a nominal fee and account verification for new web users, X aims to discourage the creation of fake accounts and ensure a more authentic user experience. While the details surrounding the subscription program’s availability across different platforms remain unclear, it will be interesting to see whether this initiative has a noticeable impact on the prevalence of spam and bots on X.
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