X implements annual fee of $1 for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines.

Elon Musk's social media platform, X, previously known as Twitter, is testing a new trial in New Zealand and the Philippines. New users in these countries will be charged $1 a year to access key features such as tweeting, retweeting, liking posts, and replying to posts. Those who choose not to pay the subscription fee will only be able to read posts, watch videos, and follow accounts. X stated that the purpose of this trial is to combat spam, platform manipulation, and bot activity. New users will also have to verify their phone number, although Mr Musk has specified that creating "read only" accounts without key features will still be free. Earlier, Mr Musk had suggested that all X users might have to pay for access. The acquisition of Twitter by Mr Musk for $44 billion last year has resulted in a continuous decline in revenue for the platform. While this new paywall is financially beneficial for the company, Mr Musk claims that it aims to tackle the issue of bots on the platform. He has mentioned that the cost to create a bot is minimal, but by implementing a small fee, it becomes less cost-effective for bots to operate. Paid subscribers of X Premium, an enhanced service, already pay for additional features such as longer posts and increased visibility on the platform. X Premium currently costs $8 per month in the US, with varying prices depending on the subscriber's country. Other users can still access X for free. However, implementing a paywall on X carries the risk of losing a significant portion of its users, which could ultimately lead to a decrease in advertising revenue, currently the company's primary source of income. Additionally, X has faced scrutiny from the European Union for the potential spread of terrorist and violent content, as well as hate speech following the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel. The company has also been fined by Australia's internet safety watchdog for failing to cooperate in an investigation regarding anti-child abuse practices.