Elon Musk's X Informs Users They Could Lose Followers as Bot Elimination Begins

Elon Musk's social media platform X has warned its users about a potential decrease in their follower counts as the company embarks on a mission to eradicate spammers and bots from its network.

In an announcement via X's Safety account, the company revealed its intention to undertake a "significant, proactive initiative" starting Thursday to purge accounts that violate X's rules against platform manipulation and spam.

X Warns Users that They May Lose More Followers

"Today, we're kicking off a significant, proactive initiative to eliminate accounts that violate our Rules against platform manipulation and spam. While we aim for accuracy in the accounts we remove, we're casting a wide net to ensure X remains secure and free of bots. As a result, you may observe changes in follower counts," X said in a post.

The company's safety initiative aims to ensure the platform's security and integrity by weeding out accounts engaged in manipulative or spammy behavior.

While striving for accuracy in identifying and removing such accounts, X acknowledges that there may be fluctuations in follower counts as a consequence of this cleanup effort.

X's Recent Appointments to its Safety Team

This initiative follows closely on the heels of X's recent appointments to its safety team. Kylie McRoberts, an existing employee at X, has been appointed as the Head of Safety, while Yale Cohen, previously associated with Publicis Media, has joined as the Head of Brand Safety and Advertiser Solutions.

Kylie McRoberts, now leading X's safety efforts, has been pivotal in advancing safety measures on the platform. Her contributions include enhancing transparency in moderation practices, bolstering security features, and establishing a Safety Center of Excellence in Austin.

McRoberts will oversee a global Safety team tasked with developing tools and policies to safeguard the platform and its community.

Yale Cohen brings extensive experience in global digital standards to his role as Head of Brand Safety and Advertiser Solutions at X.

"We're building a global town square, where safety and freedom of speech can and must coexist. Our Safety team is a vital component of X's success, and we are committed to investing in and growing this team," X said in a statement.

Grok Is Now Available for X Premium Users

In related news, Elon Musk has confirmed that Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by his venture xAI, will be available to all X premium users.

Previously exclusive to premium+ subscribers, Grok's accessibility has now been expanded to X premium members, marking a shift towards enhancing subscription-based offerings amidst a changing advertising landscape.

X Premium, priced at $8 per month or $84 annually, offers users access to a range of premium features, including Grok. Musk's decision to broaden Grok's availability aligns with his strategy to diversify revenue streams and reduce the platform's reliance on traditional advertising models.

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