X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has kicked off a new plan to charge new users a $1 USD annual fee to access key features such as the ability to post.

The new subscription method has already begun to roll out starting with New Zealand and the Phillippines, charging new users $1 USD per year in order to gain the function to tweet, reply, retweet, and like posts on X, previously known as Twitter.

“Not A Bot”

As announced on its official website, the new subscription plan is named “Not A Bot” and X claimed that it is implemented to combat bots and spammers on the social media platform.

Starting today, the social media platform has begun the trial for the new plan in both New Zealand and the Philippines, noting that in order for new users in the two countries to be able to post, they will have to pay $1 USD per year.

Note that existing users will not be affected, however, future newly registered accounts will have to subscribe to the plan to gain certain features.

Once subscribed to the fee, new users will then be able to perform certain key functions on the platform such as posting content, liking posts, replying, reposting, quoting other account’s tweets, and bookmarking posts.

The way the new plan works for new accounts will be as follows:

• Step One – Phone Verification
  • Newly registered accounts will be required to verify their phone number first.
• Step Two – Select The Subscription Plan
  • Users will then have to select their subscription plan such as X Premium, Verified Organizations, and the newly added $1 USD Annual Fee.

The company noted that the price will vary by country and currency, and the two countries with the new plan implemented have the following pricing.

• New Zealand – $1.43 NZD per year
• Philippines – ₱42.51 PHP per year

Read-Only Accounts 

It was noted that users who opt out of subscribing to the “Not a Bot” plan and want a free account will be able to create a read-only account that is only able to read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts.

This was confirmed by the company’s chairman and CEO, Elon Musk.

Correct, read for free, but $1/year to write. It’s the only way to fight bots without blocking real users.

This won’t stop bots completely, but it will be 1000X harder to manipulate the platform.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 18, 2023

X described the new program as a way to defend the social media platform against bots and spammers.

“This new test was developed to bolster our already significant efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform, and bot activity,” as stated in the Help Center 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.”

As of 17 October 2023, new users from New Zealand and the Philippines on X, formerly known as Twitter, will have to pay an annual fee of $1 USD to tweet and retweet.