Where else but on X (via 9to5Mac), Musk told a user that a “small fee” for new accounts to post on the platform is the only way to stop the endless wave of bots. He also mentioned that AI tools can easily pass “you’re a robot” tests. Additionally, in another post, the X owner said users who don’t pay the fee can still follow accounts and read posts for free.
Unfortunately, a small fee for new user write access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.
Current AI (and troll farms) can pass “are you a bot” with ease.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 15, 2024
Moreover, users who don’t pay to unlock posting will get it for free after three months. And it seems like this change is indeed in the works, as code found in the X app confirms it, meaning new users will need to subscribe if they want to start posting and engaging from the get-go.
New unverified users will have to shell out a small yearly fee before they can do any writing activities on the web, like posting, liking, bookmarking, and replying.
