Get All Access for $5/mo

Elon Musk's X Will Starting Charging Unverified Users $1 to Post on the Platform The "not a bot" program, which starts in two countries, is Musk's latest move in his war on spam accounts.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Getty Images

Elon Musk is preparing to make more sweeping changes to X, and his latest move could be a sign that the once-free platform formerly known as Twitter will one day be fully pay-to-play.

This week, X announced that users on web browsers in New Zealand and the Philippines will experience the new "Not a Bot" subscription model, which will charge all non-premium subscription users $1 to post on the platform.

Users who agree to the $1 policy can continue to use their accounts as they currently do, with all functionality. Opting out, however, will place the account in a "view-only" mode, which means no posting or re-posting — only reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts will be available.

Related: Elon Musk Says X 'May Fail' Amid Competition, Ad Losses

In 2019, The Washington Post called the social media landscape in the Phillippines "a virtual free-for-all" for paid internet trolls running social media accounts in the country.

"This new test was developed to bolster our already significant efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform, and bot activity," X wrote in a blog post. "This will evaluate a potentially powerful measure to help us combat bots and spammers on X, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount."

It's noted that this will only be implemented as of now for new accounts. Existing accounts in the two countries will not yet be affected.

Musk removed legacy blue checkmarks this past April, except for those with one million followers or more, much to the dismay of users who worked to have their accounts verified, only for the system to be replaced by a monthly subscription model where anyone can pay to have the blue symbol next to their usernames.

Related: Meta Unveils Twitter Competitor to Offer People a 'Sanely Run' Platform

X said that the company is "sharing more" about the new pay-to-post policy "soon" but didn't specify whether or not the new initiative would be rolling out to other countries.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

'You Own Nothing Here on Social': Meta Outage, Looming TikTok Ban Has Creators Questioning How Much of Their Business They Really Control

With repeated tech outages and a possible TikTok ban on the horizon, creators are looking for new ways to influence. Turns out, one old-school way still reigns supreme.

Business News

Here's What the CPI Report Means for Your Wallet, According to JPMorgan and EY Experts

Most experts agree that there will be another rate cut next week.

Leadership

3 Ways Your Parenting Skills Can Improve Your Leadership Skills

Parenting and management offer valuable lessons in identifying talent, nurturing potential and fostering growth through encouragement and guidance.

Growing a Business

How Connecting With the Right Audience Drives Long-Term Business Success

Here's how targeted lead generation can help you unlock higher conversions, stronger brand loyalty and scalable growth.