Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk intends to implement a fee for new users to tweet on his microblogging platform X as a measure to combat the persistent spam problem. Musk emphasized that this fee is necessary due to the relentless onslaught of bots flooding the platform.
X may broaden its policy to charge new users for basic functions like posting, replying, liking, or bookmarking a post. Musk highlighted the ineffectiveness of current tools like CAPTCHA, which can be bypassed by advanced AI and troll farms with ease.
Musk has been grappling with bot-related issues since acquiring Twitter in a $44 billion deal in October 2022. Similar fee-based policies were tested in New Zealand and the Philippines in October, requiring a $1 payment for new users to access additional features.
Despite Musk’s intentions, many, including blockchain sleuth ZachXBT, argue that charging new users won’t deter the proliferation of bots. Concerns include the existence of a black market for verified scam accounts and potential negative impacts on new user growth.
Critics point out that X’s staff struggles to effectively terminate fake accounts, with many of these bots and scam accounts created years ago. While X recently announced proactive measures to eliminate rule-violating accounts, challenges persist in addressing platform manipulation and spam.
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