Elon Musk owner of Twitter

Twitter, now under the helm of Elon Musk and rebranded as “X,” has been on a journey of transformation. One of the most significant changes it introduced was a subscription service for account verification, which costs users $8 per month. The latest development in this evolution is a $1 annual fee for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines. This fee is part of what Twitter calls the “Not A Bot” program, and it comes with specific requirements.

The primary purpose of this program is to combat spam, manipulation of the platform, and bot activity on Twitter. In an unsigned post on Twitter’s help center, the company explained.

By charging a nominal fee, Twitter aims to deter malicious actors and reduce unwanted automated activity on the platform.

In addition to the $1 annual fee, new web users in New Zealand and the Philippines will be required to verify their accounts with a phone number. This verification process will help ensure that users are genuine individuals.

It’s worth noting that the $1 subscription fee is only applicable to new users joining Twitter via the web, and not through the mobile app. While the company’s announcement doesn’t provide a detailed explanation for this distinction, it could be attributed to a higher prevalence of bot activity from these regions on the web platform.

Consequences for Opting Out

New users in New Zealand and the Philippines who choose not to subscribe to the “Not A Bot” program will have limited capabilities on the platform. They will only be able to “read-only” actions, such as viewing posts and watching videos. This measure is designed to encourage users to participate in the anti-bot efforts and maintain the integrity of the Twitter community.

As Twitter, or rather “X,” continues to evolve under Elon Musk’s leadership, these changes reflect the company’s commitment to fostering a safer and more authentic user experience. It remains to be seen whether this program will expand to other countries, but for now, new users in New Zealand and the Philippines can expect a slightly different onboarding experience on Twitter.