Elon Musk has unveiled a shocking new change for Twitter (currently known as X): charging new users to post, like, reply, and even bookmark tweets. Text updates on Twitter’s site reveal a “small annual fee” for new accounts.
Musk claims this fee is “the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots”. However, this scheme has already been tested in New Zealand and the Philippines with questionable results.
Here’s the catch: New users can either pay up or wait three months to gain the ability to interact on the platform. Unsurprisingly, this hasn’t gone over well. Many point out that spammers and bots can simply pay or create multiple accounts, defeating the entire purpose. Additionally, this change could drive away legitimate users unwilling to pay for a service that other social networks offer for free.
The exact cost is unclear, with pricing around $1 USD based on tests in other countries. Musk also claims the move will free up valuable usernames, but given that millions have already been released, this reasoning seems shaky.
This announcement is another example of Musk’s chaotic leadership and raises serious questions about X’s future as a viable social media platform.
