In a tweet, Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, announced that starting on April 15th, only verified accounts will be eligible for For You recommendations on the platform. This move is aimed at addressing the issue of advanced AI bot swarms taking over. Musk stated that without this verification process, the battle against these bots is a “hopeless losing battle.”
Additionally, Musk revealed that verification will also be required for voting in polls, citing the same reason. However, he clarified that it is acceptable to have verified bot accounts on the platform, as long as they follow the terms of service and do not impersonate a human.
This new policy will have significant implications for the millions of users on the platform who rely on For You recommendations to discover new content and accounts to follow. While some may argue that this move restricts free speech and limits the ability of new users to grow their accounts, others may see it as a necessary step to combat the growing issue of AI bot swarms.
Twitter has been grappling with the issue of bots for years, and this new policy is just one of the many steps the company has taken to address it. By requiring verification for recommendations and polls, Twitter is taking a proactive approach to ensure that its platform remains a safe and trustworthy space for users to engage with each other.
In conclusion, Elon Musk’s announcement of verified accounts only for Twitter recommendations and polls marks a significant change in the platform’s policies. While some may view it as a necessary step to address the issue of AI bots, others may see it as a restriction on free speech. Nonetheless, it is a move that will have a far-reaching impact on the millions of users who rely on Twitter for information and social engagement.