From free to fee: X tests a new $1/year subscription tier in two countries،
Last month, Elon Musk revealed his plans for X (formerly Twitter), hinting at a move towards a fully paid model. Shortly after, he clarified that there would still be a free option for users. However, recent developments suggest that X is moving closer to a fee-based structure.
X is currently essay a new subscription level called “Not A Bot” in two countries: the Philippines and New Zealand. The subscription plan costs a modest $1 per year, but keep in mind that prices may vary depending on country and currency.
Under the “Not a Bot” plan, new users can enjoy essential features during this trial period. This includes the ability to tweet, retweet, like posts, and reply to posts. Users who choose not to subscribe will be limited to reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts.
To create new accounts, users will need to verify their phone numbers. They will then have three subscription options: the Not-a-Bot plan at $1/year, X Premium and the Verified Organizations plan. It remains unclear whether these conditions will remain the same when X introduces paid subscription more widely.
In a recent post on X, Musk said the platform would remain free to read but would incur a $1/year write fee. According to Musk, this approach is crucial to fighting bots without hindering real users, making manipulating the platform 1000 times more difficult.
Okay, free to read, but $1/year to write. This is the only way to fight bots without blocking real users.
This won’t stop the bots completely, but it will make it 1,000 times more difficult to manipulate the platform.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 18, 2023
X explained that the goal of the Not a Bot subscription plan is to strengthen existing efforts to combat spam, platform manipulation and bot activities. This trial aims to evaluate an effective measure to combat bots and spammers on X while maintaining the accessibility of the platform with minimal fees. Existing users are not affected by this test.
However, there is a risk associated with placing X behind a paywall: losing a substantial user base. This potential loss could subsequently impact advertising revenue, which currently constitutes the majority of the company’s revenue.
