Elon Musk Plans To Fee New User X To Interact With Posts

Elon Musk will make another update on platform X (photo: dock.x)

JAKARTA - Elon Musk, owner of X, has announced his plans to start collecting "small fees" to all new users in order to interact with posts.

In replying to an account that has posted about possible changes, the Tesla and SpaceX boss said that charging new users fees for posting, giving likes (likes), and replying were "the only way" to stop fake accounts or bots on the platform.

This news was not welcomed by many users, where one user warned that such a change would "encourage millions of people from platform X."

Last year, X launched a trial scheme in New Zealand and the Philippines requiring new users to pay a one-year subscription in order to access key features.

"Unfortunately, a small cost of writing access for new users is the only way to control tireless bot attacks," Musk said.

In a further reply to another account questioning the approach, Musk said that the fee may only last for three months after users joined the platform.

However, some users have expressed their concerns about the proposed changes.

One user replied: "X Premium doesn't stop bots, so why will a small cost have an impact? It will only encourage millions of people to leave the platform."

Responding to Musk, one user wrote: "Not good. It can give likes or marks it must be free. X cannot be a city hall if people have to pay to speak. Freedom of speech must be free."

And one user complained: "Bot is profitable. They will also pay that fee."

Musk said that eradicating fake accounts and bots was his top priority when taking over the platform by the end of 2022.

However, many users have since reported increased spam content, in part due to significant staff cuts by Musk, including the company's content moderation team.

The verification system reshuffle, meaning anyone can now pay to be verified on the platform and have their posts and replies placed more prominently on the site, has also been linked by some with increased spam content.

Musk had previously suggested that all users would eventually have to pay to use X.

Since the takeover of X, it has reported that the platform has experienced a significant decline in revenue as advertisers have left it over concerns about Musk's confidence in "absolute speech freedom" and his tolerance for more controversial content.

This has prompted companies to switch to subscription options - including X Premium, which allow users to pay to verify - to open new revenue streams.