Posting links on X has just become significantly more expensive for third-party tools. The API price hike from $0.01 to $0.20 per link has hit tech accounts like Techmeme hard, who now ask users to visit their own site for full context.

The change follows a trend of making X less attractive to publishers, with some suggesting it may be a move to reduce spam. However, X’s head of product argues that links are not deboosted and that the issue lies in engagement metrics rather than a direct fee hike.

Despite Bier's defense, the impact on Techmeme demonstrates how such changes can affect user experience and content strategy. The price increase is just one part of a broader discussion around social media algorithms and their impact on content visibility.

In a recent spat, both parties presented different views: Techmeme citing Nieman Lab studies to support their case, while X’s product head maintained that links are not deboosted but argued for more user interaction with the posts.