New users on microblogging site, X, formerly known as Twitter, will have to pay before they can post on the platform, Elon Musk has said

Musk, the owner of X, announced the new policy in a post on the platform on Tuesday.

Replying to a post about the X policy on new accounts on Monday, he said it is the only way to check the scourge of bots on the platform.

Musk stated that the proliferation of fake accounts takes up the available space for usernames, leading to the unavailability of many good handles.

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

“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.”

He, however, said new users will be able to post for free after three months.

On October 17, 2023, X started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines $1 per year to access key features, which include the ability to tweet, retweet, like posts and reply to posts.

The social media platform said the aim is to “reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity”.

On April 4, Elon Musk announced that a cleanup to purge the social media platform of bot accounts and trolls was underway and would lead to the suspension of legitimate accounts.

In addition, Musk said the company would also trace the people responsible and bring the full force of the law to bear upon them