Elon Musk’s digital platform, hitherto known as Twitter, is piloting a new initiative aimed at curbing the burgeoning issue of spam and fake accounts. Users in the Philippines and New Zealand are now being charged an annual fee of one US dollar – a unique approach this platform, now designated as ‘X’, has dubbed ‘Not a Bot’.
The project, which will only affect new and unverified accounts, was announced late Tuesday, but a key query lingers; why these specific countries? As yet, there is no clear rationale for the selective application of this test.
Musk’s company articulated its intentions, stating this proactive approach has been launched to fortify their already successful attempts to counteract spam, the manipulation of the platform, and bot activity. Crucially, the fee is not being utilized as a new line of revenue, but rather as an accessibility balance, affirming the financial requirements for potential users remain negligible.
However, skeptics question the efficacy of such an approach. Some experts posit it could not only fail to deter fabrication of accounts but could exacerbate the issue. Kolina Koltai, a researcher from the investigative collective Bellingcat and previous Twitter employee, posed her concerns regarding the potential international roll-out of this cost, warning of ‘disastrous’ implications. Despite the fee, scammers and bot generators could still generate dozens of new accounts, investing relatively small sums. It also raises questions about whether new users would be willing to part with their one dollar and credit card details to access X.
Since acquiring the platform a year ago, Musk has initiated a variety of changes to the platform, albeit controversial ones. From rebranding to downsizing, his influence has been keenly felt within the company. Nonetheless, external observers have cited that these shifts have created a fertile environment for misinformation, an issue which dramatically worsened during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Despite the myriad of changes, the platform’s finances have remained unstable, prompting Musk to introduce premium subscriptions as a financial lifeline. The blue-check verification system was first to receive a financial twist, offering checks to anyone willing to pay an eight-dollar monthly fee. However, the resultant flux of imposter accounts led to a temporary halt to the service mere days after its launch.
The financial incentives linked to viral posting, according to researchers, have not discouraged the issue of bots or spam, despite the fact Koltai noted the preventative intention of the aforementioned premium program.
Meanwhile, the latest subscribers, who have paid the one-dollar fee, will be granted access to basic functions such as content posting, interaction, and response to other posts. For those who choose not to subscribe, the platform promises they can still consume content, be it reading posts, watching videos, or following other users.
