X’s New Zealand and Philippines users face $1 annual fee

X, formerly Twitter, has initiated a $1 annual subscription fee for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines, arguing it is an effort to curb the influence of bots and spammers. The subscription provides access to key platform features, while those who choose not to subscribe will be limited to ‘read-only’ actions.

X stated that this is part of its ongoing efforts to tackle spam and manipulative activities on the platform, with the company emphasizing its commitment to balance accessibility with a nominal fee. Existing users remain unaffected by the change, and the fee is currently in beta.

Elon Musk originally suggested charging all users, citing the potential to deter bot operators. This coincides with Musk’s pursuit of revenue sources other than advertising. Musk has noted a 60% drop in ad revenue due to an advertiser boycott and concerns about handling inappropriate or offensive content since he assumed control.

Why does it matter?

Despite previous efforts to enhance X service, such as the introduction of the X premium blue tick product, which failed to deter scammers from persistently exploiting X premium accounts to target platform users, the effectiveness of this new measure in countering bots remains uncertain. This situation raises questions about whether its main goal is combatting bots or recovering lost revenue.