CTO Ripple Responds To New Policy For Social Media Platform X

Ripple CTO, David Schwartz. (Photo; Doc. Coinpedia)

JAKARTA - The social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, has returned to the spotlight. Recently, Musk proposed a new policy that caused heated debate among users and industry observers. The policy in question is the imposition of fees to new users as a condition for getting full access to the platform. This step is claimed to reduce the prevalence of bots and disturbing mock accounts.

According to Musk, the current artificial intelligence (AI) system is not powerful enough to address user verification issues. In a statement posted on its X page, the tech billionaire stated that entry costs for new users could be an effective solution to combat bot attacks and ensure the authenticity of the platform's user base. Musk has long criticized the rampant use of bots, even claiming that most interactions on his account are not authentic.

Not everyone agrees with Musk's approach. David Schwartz, Ripple's Chief Technology Officer (CTO), publicly criticized the proposal. Schwartz questioned Musk's commitment to free speech and accused him of selective censorship. Schwartz stressed the importance of critical thinking and reflection before speaking, which he said could reduce the number of impulsive comments on the platform.

Meanwhile, ZachXBT, a user with more than half a million followers, voiced doubts about the effectiveness of the policy. It suggests that a nominal fee may not be enough to deter a determined fraudster, based on his experience with a verified scam account.

Musk's idea of charging this fee is not without precedent. In countries like New Zealand and the Philippines, similar policies have been implemented, where new users who don't pay fees are only given reading access. This raises questions about how this business model will be accepted in the global market.

In the midst of this debate, a proposal emerged from another user X, Penny2x, who suggested that Musk consider payments in Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency he has long supported. This marks new considerations in the digital payment ecosystem and how cryptocurrencies can play a role in social media platforms.

The policy proposed by Musk has sparked ongoing discussions among users of the social media platform X. Users and industry experts continue to provide their opinion on the benefits and disadvantages of imposing costs on new users. While still in the proposal stage, the future of this policy remains a hot topic that attracts public and media attention.