X, formally Twitter, has announced that it will begin to charge new users to the platform $1/year to post and interact with other users, saying the new paywall is being introduced to reduce spam, automated bot accounts and manipulation on the platform.
Announced in a post on Tuesday, X says its new annual “Not A Bot” subscription will be tested on new users in New Zealand and the Philippines, marking one of the most significant changes to the social media platform since Elon Musk’s turbulent takeover last year.
According to X, new users who join but don’t subscribe won’t be able to create posts, like, reply or bookmark content.
Shortly after the announcement, Musk posted that users can “read for free, but $1/year to write.”
“It’s the only way to fight bots without blocking real users,” Musk wrote. “This won’t stop bots completely, but it will be 1000X harder to manipulate the platform.”