X is introducing a new feature to restrict replies to paid verified accounts

In the latest development from Elon Musk's platform X, formerly known as Twitter, users now have the ability to block unverified accounts from replying to their posts. This new control feature is not exclusive to paid accounts; even users without X Premium can choose to prevent non-verified accounts from replying to their posts.

Previously, users could limit replies to “Everyone”, “Accounts you follow”, or “Only accounts you mention”. Now, a fourth option has been introduced: “Verified accounts”. This new feature acts as a reply paywall, designed to encourage users to pay for verification.

The option to restrict replies to accounts a user follows or mentions serves as a useful tool to prevent or minimize harassment. However, restricting replies to users with a paid subscription essentially requires others to pay Elon Musk to engage in conversation…

The update has already been implemented across both mobile and desktop platforms. If you haven't received it yet, it's likely to be available soon. For those who already have the feature, it's an additional (bad) tool that can be utilized or ignored as per user preference.