X is planning to start charging all new users a “small fee” in order to interact with posts, the social media site’s owner Elon Musk says.

Replying to an account which had posted about the possible changes, the Tesla and Space X boss said charging new users to post, like and reply was the “only way” to stop fake or bot accounts on the platform.

In 2023, X, formerly known as Twitter, launched a pilot scheme in New Zealand and the Philippines that required new users to pay a one dollar a year subscription in order to access key features.

Musk’s comments suggest that trial will be rolled out more widely.

“Unfortunately, a small fee for new user write access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots,” he said.

“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 as a result.”

In a further reply to another account which questioned the approach, Mr Musk said the fee could only be in place for the first three months after a new user joins the platform.

The billionaire said eradicating fake and bot accounts was a key priority for him when taking over the platform in late 2022.

However, many users have since reported seeing an increase in spam content, in part due to Musk’s substantial cuts to staff, including the firm’s content moderation team.

The revamp to the verification system, which means anyone can pay to be verified on the platform and have their posts and replies placed more prominently on the site, has also been attributed by some to the rising visibility of spam content.

Musk has previously suggested that all users could eventually have to pay to use X.

Since his takeover, it has been reported the platform has seen substantial revenue decline as advertisers have fled the platform over concerns about Musk’s belief in “absolute free speech” and his tolerance of more controversial content.

It has led the company to turn to subscription options – including X Premium, which enables users to pay to be verified – in order to open up new income streams.

 

Martyn Landi
(Australian Associated Press)