Elon Musk Unveils Controversial Twitter Blue Feature, Sparks Debate

Elon Musk, known for his bold moves, has rolled out another significant change on X (formerly Twitter), raising eyebrows among users who rely on the platform for free access.

Users now have the option to restrict responses to those who subscribe to the £11/month ($7.99/month) Twitter Blue subscription. In an announcement posted on X's official account, the social media giant explained that users can "now limit replies to verified users" and shared a visual demonstration of the new feature in action.

With this update, when posting on the platform, users can choose who can reply to their tweets. The options include everyone, verified accounts, accounts you follow, or only accounts you mention.

Musk claims that this feature is aimed at reducing the presence of bots on the platform. However, many users remain skeptical about his intentions. Concerns have been raised that these changes are making the platform less welcoming to non-paying users.

One user expressed their concern by asking, "How long before 'only' verified accounts can reply at all?" Others worry that it will become increasingly challenging to participate on the platform without a verified badge.

Some users even lightened the mood with humor, suggesting, "Can we limit them to exclude verified users?" However, many users accuse Musk of silencing or censoring individuals who cannot or choose not to pay for Twitter Blue. One user bluntly stated, "This is censoring people who don't pay."

Back in August, X stirred controversy when it announced plans to remove the 'block' feature, leaving users unable to shield themselves from harassment and spam. This decision raised concerns about potential increases in abuse on the platform, as users would no longer have control over restricting comments from others.

X's current official stance on free speech is "freedom of speech, not freedom of reach." In an official statement, X emphasized its commitment to preserving free speech while also maintaining the platform's health.

Elon Musk, in a recent post, expressed optimism that the new feature would tackle the issue of spam bots, aligning with his long-standing mission to combat this problem. Since acquiring Twitter last October, Musk has consistently emphasized his determination to tackle spam bots, even suggesting that making Twitter a paid platform could reduce their prevalence.

In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk explained, "I'd say the single most important reason we're moving towards having a small monthly payment for use of the X system is that it's the only way I can think of to combat vast armies of bots."

Despite this rationale, some X users remain skeptical, noting that many bots on the platform already have verified status and would remain unaffected by these changes. As one user pointed out, "Many bots and scammers are verified, though," while another highlighted, "I get spammed all day with accounts that have blue checkmarks."