X, previously known as Twitter, has introduced a new anti-bot program in New Zealand and the Philippines. New users in these countries are required to pay an annual fee of $1 to post and engage with others on the platform. However, this program will not impact existing X users in any way, as confirmed by the X Support Team. Users who choose not to pay will have limited access, allowing them to view posts and media but not actively participate.

Highlights:

• X's anti-bot program aims to combat spam, platform manipulation, and bot-related activities.
• The annual fee is minimal and designed to strike a balance between accessibility and spam prevention.
• Elon Musk, the owner of X, believes this subscription fee is crucial in curbing bots and platform manipulation.

X, under Elon Musk's ownership, has faced challenges in ad revenue. However, X CEO Linda Yaccarino is optimistic about the return of top brands and the potential for profitability in the coming year.

The recent Israel-Hamas conflict has exposed X's limitations in swiftly addressing false news and platform manipulation carried out by bots or spam accounts. EU industry chief Thierry Breton strongly criticized the platform, urging it to take more effective action against illegal content and disinformation.

This new anti-bot program represents X's proactive step toward creating a more secure and user-friendly platform, ensuring a better overall experience for its users while addressing issues related to bot activity and spam.