Team-BHP - Twitter to charge $1 as annual subscription fee from new users

Quote:

X has said that it is going to charge users $1 as an annual fee under a new subscription model, Reuters reported. The fee is applicable for posting content, replies, likes, reposts or quoting other accounts' posts and bookmarking posts.

The new subscription model will be called “Not A Bot" and the new subscription model is designed to combat bots and spammers, X said

Source : HT Mint link

PS: Starting a new thread as the older twitter is presently locked.

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Originally Posted by arnav17 (Post 5646198)

Looks like they are on a mission to discourage new users from joining twitter :uncontrol . I don't think there are people willing to pay even 1$ to use twitter.

Actually, it's a very positive step forward! This is the best method to prevent the creation of bots and fake accounts. Even if someone manages to create a fake account, financial transactions can easily trace them back to their origin. I would happily pay the $1 fee to be free from bots and fake accounts!

The downfall of X (Twitter) will just accelerate the moment they start charging for it. Ultimately, no one will want to pay for outrage and trolling, when they can do it for free anywhere else. Monetisation can be done via multiple other means, but charging users a subscription fee, however miniscule, is a bad idea, IMHO.

This world's #1 or sometimes #2 richest person's "sole goal" is to beat Jeff Bezos till eternity and remain at #1 permanently.

Contrarily, Elon Musk has done his homework before making his DOLLAR announcement. He knows his ace rival Jeff Bezos who often usurps his #1 slot, can't charge such a DOLLAR from all Amazon users. But this "X" has become a top world and local news source now. Hence, "X" users are all trapped and have nowhere else to go.

Twitter or X's meteoric rise started when Donald Trump and many other leaders announced policy decisions first through this forum.

There are users who have more than one Id's. For them it shall be DOLLAR + DOLLAR + DOLLAR.......... going straight into Musk's coffers. Or else these guys may also exit in swarms.

Guys,
A few additional points before jump the gun and start giving out opinions with regards to the downfall of Twitter/X.

1. This is a beta program that is being tested out only in two countries - New Zealand & Philippines. Musk has indicated his interest in charging all users (in conversations with the Israeli PM) but that's still quite a way to go.

2. This is an option applicable only to new users in those two countries; and those new users can still choose to not opt for this subscription option; they will still have read-only access. The Twitter Help Center doesn't expand more with regards to existing users in those two countries; the understanding is their accounts will function as normal.

3. This is supposedly being rolled out to prevent new bot accounts to be added to the platform. Or rather to charge those bot accounts and make money from them. No clarity why those two countries were selected; maybe Twitter/X has the data on bots from each country that enabled the decision to start with those two countries.

Let's see how the beta program progresses with regards to # of new users opting for this payment. It might just be one of many failed beta attempts (heck, that's what the 'beta' signifies).

Sources: Twitter - Not A Bot Program, Not A Bot Terms & Conditions

Is Twitter the only app affected by bots? Hell no! Even Instagram has hell lot of bots - with the recent Israel Hamas war, you'll see a lot of comments supporting one or the other side in the comment section of some random unrelated content.

I'm pretty sure other platforms are facing the same issue too.

But this is still beatable. If the person who wants to run bots can hire people and pay them directly for the account charges and post on their behalf, the ability to find a source for multiple bot accounts will still fail.

I just think this is a way to monetize the platform. Forget the bots - if you want to subscribe to individuals whose content will never be 'filtered', this is a very small premium. I'm pretty sure there's a good crowd on all sides of the political spectrum of every country who would love to have their beliefs/ideas validated by someone through their content.

Knowing Elon Musk's strategy to always fail fast, it won't be long before there's another new proposal if this doesn't work out.

Twitter is still rolling this out as a trial feature in a few countries. It won't succeed. On the other hand, it will drive away serious contributors too. Reasons:

1. Not everyone has the ability to make digital payments. As privileged car owners, we underestimate this limitation.

2. Subscription fatigue. How many things can you subscribe to, even if for just a buck? A pain to enter your credit card / financial info in yet another website. It's the primary reason WhatsApp was supposed to charge folks $1 per year in the initial years, but a majority didn't get hit with it.

3. At best, a fee should be "optional" on social media websites. Similar to Reddit Premium. Offer some real benefits and a way for users to pay back like Reddit Premium (not a lame blue tick). Elon Musk can build the best EVs in the world & game-change industries, but the last year shows he knows zilch about running a social network / user generated content website.

Twitter has been a colossal waste of his time, talent & energy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Slow (Post 5646211)

This is the best method to prevent the creation of bots and fake accounts.

No man, with AI, bots can now type out full essays & answers. Credit Card info is easy-peasy. This will do nothing to bot entry.

Twitter has already done a good enough job of removing bot spam. Before Elon Musk, you could not even read comments when somebody with > 500,000 followers made a post. It was filled with spam. But now, even Elon Musk (160 million followers) post comments are readable.

Any social media platform that demands credit card info for something as basic as like/comments will result in its slow decline to obscurity. After all, folks discover the benefits of a social media platform over a period of time.

That's because payment is not an affordability problem. It is an invisble psychological barrier that will prevent new users from becoming long term users.

I don't get the hate for Elon Musk and X here. The coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict has made me respect Elon Musk even more. This is the only platform that has been neutral and presenting both sides of the diatribe. I appreciate that and I would gladly forgo a dollar or two for the same.

This is bad news. 90% people will not go through the trouble of paying even 1$. I think they’re trying to keep people off the platform. Twitter is a great way to discover voices that diverge from the mainstream narrative or big media bias. I wish Elon resists pressure and keeps it free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Slow (Post 5646211)

Not if the person is using iPhone.

1. For anyone using iPhone, Apple will not share credit card information with X.
2. For all iPhone users, Apple will collect a 30%(reducing over time) fee and only 70 cents will reach Elon Musk.

If its only about removing bots and fake accounts then multiple other things can be tried before reaching out for the customer's wallet. Eg. Social security verification for US users, Aadhaar based authentification for India users, etc. Having said the above, X is a 'For Profit' company and it has the right to make revenues for its shareholders/investors/owner.

Pramod