X Disables Like and Follow Features for Free API Users

To enhance user safety and engagement, Elon Musk’s X is planning to remove access to two essential developer API features for users on the free tier. Consequently, users on the free plan will no longer be able to like posts on behalf of any accounts or follow other users.

The organization indicates that these changes aim to protect X’s platform from “spam, bots, and deceitful activities” that adversely affect user experience.

Developers on paid tiers—Basic, Pro, or Enterprise—will remain unaffected by these changes, as these subscriptions provide extra features, increased rate limits, and improved capabilities.

While these restrictions on basic functionalities may help mitigate programmatic abuses, they may also compel developers with legitimate businesses or projects to transition to paid plans to sustain their operations.

Since Musk’s acquisition, X has implemented a range of significant changes to its API platform, starting with the abrupt termination of free access without prior notification to developers, followed by a subsequent decision to allow limited free use. The new API pricing structure introduced in spring 2023 reinforced that the company was prioritizing revenue, with its basic plan tailored mainly for “good bots”—automated accounts delivering valuable information, such as weather updates.

Additionally, in October of the previous year, X increased the monthly cost of its basic plan from $100 to $200 and enacted stricter guidelines.

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