New users of
“Unfortunately, a small fee for new users to have the right to write is the only way to combat the incessant onslaught of “bots” (automated accounts, Editor’s note),” the billionaire wrote.
“Current artificial intelligences (and troll farms) can easily pass the “are you a robot?” tests. “, he continued.
The measure will only concern new users of the social network and “they will be able to write for free after three months”, he specified in another message.
Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022, did not specify the amount of these fees, the date of their deployment or the countries concerned.
The X platform already implemented a similar measure in October in New Zealand and the Philippines, where new users must pay $0.75 and $0.85 respectively for basic services such as posting messages.
Those who refuse to pay these amounts only have access to the “reading” function of the platform, that is to say watching videos or following accounts.
This policy already aimed to reduce spam (unsolicited messages) as well as “platform manipulation and bot activity,” the network indicated.
“Bots”, fake accounts spreading disinformation and false rumors, have proliferated on the platform since its takeover by Elon Musk and the sharp reduction in content moderation.
Many advertisers have deserted end of March.
To counter this phenomenon and generate revenue, X has launched paid plans since 2023, first to obtain certification badges, then to hide advertisements.