Twitter, now renamed X, is testing new $1 annual subscriptions to offer unverified accounts entry to core options like tweeting and retweeting.
This transfer is a part of a brand new beta program named “Not A Bot” that went stay beginning Tuesday for customers in New Zealand and the Philippines.
Arrange as a recurring subscription service, this system gives unverified Twitter accounts with what the corporate describes as “write-level performance.”
Extra to the purpose, after subscribing, customers will acquire privileges to put up content material, like, reply, repost, quote, bookmark different accounts’ posts, and carry out numerous different writing actions on the platform.
Whereas new unverified accounts should subscribe to a $1 annual plan to tweet and work together with different folks’s tweets, present customers stay unaffected by this trial.
The corporate stated the check program was launched as a part of an ongoing initiative to curb spam, platform manipulation, and bot exercise on Twitter.
“This new check was developed to bolster our already profitable efforts to cut back spam, manipulation of our platform and bot exercise, whereas balancing platform accessibility with the small charge quantity. It’s not a revenue driver,” Twitter says.
“And thus far, subscription choices have confirmed to be the primary resolution that works at scale.”
​Newly registered accounts in New Zealand and the Philippines should now confirm their telephone numbers for authentication. Those that select to not subscribe may have restricted privileges, restricted to “read-only” actions, together with studying posts, watching movies, and following accounts.
In New Zealand, customers should pay an annual charge of $NZD 1.43 for Not-A-Bot subscriptions, whereas within the Philippines, the yearly charge stands at ₱42.51.
“That is to cut back bots and spam to make the expertise higher for everybody. You may nonetheless observe accounts and browse X without spending a dime,” customers are informed when requested to enroll.
Earlier this yr, Twitter additionally blocked entry to the platform for folks with out an account, redirecting guests to a “Register to Twitter” display, the place they had been prompted to both login or join a brand new account.
The social community additionally rolled out encrypted direct messages, a long-expected characteristic now solely accessible to Twitter Blue subscribers.
