New X users will have to pay to post and like
New users of the social network X will soon have to pay a ‘small fee’ to post and like messages.
According to X owner Elon Musk, this is necessary because the social network is plagued by bots. If you don’t pay, you can still follow accounts and read messages. However, it is not possible to create your own messages, or even like and bookmark messages from others.
After three months, the lock is automatically removed from the account and you can simply type messages for free. So bots only have to wait three months.
Musk catches bots
It is not yet clear when the new rules will come into effect and how much it will cost new users to be able to post messages immediately.
Initially, the Premium subscription with a blue checkmark was supposed to be the way to stop bots, but this turned out not to be enough. When AI was deployed earlier this year to recognize and remove bot accounts, legitimate accounts were also caught in the crossfire.
Additional information:
- The new rules are expected to come into effect in the coming months.
- The cost of the fee has not yet been announced.
- Some users have criticized the new rules, arguing that they will make X less accessible.
- Others have defended the rules, saying that they are necessary to combat bots.
