October 18, 2023 at 05:53AM
Twitter, now called X, is testing $1 annual subscriptions for unverified accounts to access core features like tweeting and retweeting. The beta program, called “Not A Bot,” is live for users in New Zealand and the Philippines. The subscription provides unverified accounts with writing privileges. Existing users are not affected, and the test aims to combat spam and bot activity. New users in these countries must verify their phone numbers, and those who don’t subscribe have limited privileges. Twitter also introduced encrypted direct messages for Twitter Blue subscribers.
During the meeting, it was discussed that Twitter, now called X, is testing a new annual subscription model priced at $1 for unverified accounts. This subscription will grant access to core features such as tweeting, retweeting, and other writing actions on the platform. The beta program, known as “Not A Bot,” launched on Tuesday in New Zealand and the Philippines.
The purpose of this test program is to minimize spam, platform manipulation, and bot activity on Twitter. The subscription model has shown success in addressing these issues at scale. However, it is important to note that existing users are not affected by this trial.
Under this new program, newly registered accounts in New Zealand and the Philippines will be required to verify their phone numbers for authentication. Users who choose not to subscribe will have limited privileges and can only engage in “read-only” actions, such as reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts.
In New Zealand, the annual fee for the Not-A-Bot subscription is $NZD 1.43, while in the Philippines, it is ₱42.51. The introduction of these fees aims to reduce bot and spam activity to enhance the user experience. Users who are prompted to sign up for a subscription are assured that they can still follow accounts and browse X for free.
Additionally, Twitter has recently blocked access to the platform for those without an account, redirecting them to a “Sign in to Twitter” screen. Encrypted direct messages, a highly anticipated feature, are now exclusively available to Twitter Blue subscribers.