X now limits free users to 50 posts a day

The logo of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is seen alongside the former logo in this illustration taken, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

X, formerly known as Twitter, has introduced stricter technical limits for unverified accounts, including a sharp cut in how many posts users can make in a day. Under the updated system, free accounts can now publish only 50 original posts and 200 replies daily.

For comparison, tech outlet Engadget reported that unpaid users previously had a much larger allowance of up to 2,400 posts per day.

That change could hit hard for fandom spaces, sports fans, pop culture commentators and chronically online users who treat the app like a running diary.

From comeback countdowns and concert fancams to all-caps reactions during finals games or reality show eliminations, posting fast and often has become part of online culture.

X said the new restrictions are meant to improve the platform’s technical performance. According to its help center page, the limits help “alleviate some of the strain on the behind-the-scenes part of X and reduce downtime and error pages.”

The post cap does not only work on a simple daily reset. X noted that limits are also divided into smaller semi-hourly windows, meaning users may temporarily lose posting privileges before they even realize they’ve burned through their quota.

And if you hit the ceiling, the app will let you know. Users who reach the limit will see an error message and will have to wait until their posting access refreshes.

The posting restriction is only one part of X’s existing limitations for unverified users. Free accounts are still limited to 500 direct messages per day, four email changes per hour and a daily following cap of 400 accounts.