X is testing $1 per year fee to reduce spam

X, previously known as Twitter, will start experimenting with a $1 annual fee for “new unverified” users who wish to engage with posts, as part of its efforts to fight spam on the platform. 

The new subscription, labeled “Not A Bot,” will impose charges on users for actions such as liking, reposting, quoting other users’ posts, and bookmarking posts on the web version of the platform.This test is presently underway in New Zealand and the Philippines, with no impact on existing users. Nevertheless, for new users who opt not to subscribe, their access will be limited to viewing and reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts.

“This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform, and bot activity while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. It is not a profit driver,” X said.

Starting today, we're testing a new program (Not A Bot) in New Zealand and the Philippines. New, unverified accounts will be required to sign up for a $1 annual subscription to be able to post & interact with other posts. Within this test, existing users are not affected.

This…

— Support (@Support) October 17, 2023

As stated on its support page, the company has committed to sharing the program’s outcomes in its ongoing fight against spam. The decision follows Elon Musk’s announcement that X is considering implementing a “small monthly payment” for service usage. Although the test program currently employs an annual payment, the underlying principle remains consistent.

Back in June, X initially mandated users to log in to access posts. However, shortly thereafter, the platform rescinded this requirement, permitting logged-out users to view posts.

In the previous month, CEO Linda Yaccarino expressed in an interview that X is on track to achieve profitability by 2024. As of now, X offers a single paid plan at $8 per month. However, recent code discoveries suggest that the company is contemplating the launch of three premium tiers, with one of them being entirely ad-free.