Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has announced plans to implement charges for new users posting on the platform.

According to him, “a small fee for new user write access is the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.”

Musk explained that after a three-month period, new users would be granted free posting privileges.

He expressed concerns about the ease with which current AI and troll farms can bypass bot detection measures, stating, “Current AI (and troll farms) can pass ‘are you a bot’ with ease. The onslaught of fake accounts also uses up the available namespace, so many good handles are taken as a result”

Earlier, Musk had implemented a yearly fee of $1 for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines starting on October 17, 2023, granting them access to essential functionalities like tweeting, retweeting, liking posts, and commenting.