In a surprising move that has left many shaking their heads, Elon Musk’s X platform, formerly known as Twitter, has initiated the reinstatement of blue check verification badges for select users, causing a flurry of confusion and mixed reactions across the social media sphere.
Once considered a symbol of prestige, Twitter’s blue checkmarks were typically reserved for celebrities, politicians, and other influential figures. However, this paradigm shifted following Musk’s acquisition of the platform for a staggering $44 billion in October 2022.
Last year, X altered its verification policy, restricting blue checkmarks solely to users who subscribed to the platform’s premium services, priced at $8 per month. This decision sparked uproar, as it resulted in the removal of verification badges from numerous prominent accounts, triggering complaints and a surge in fake profiles impersonating verified users.
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Yet, in a peculiar turn of events, numerous users reported witnessing the reappearance of blue checkmarks on their accounts, or the awarding of verification badges for the first time, despite not being subscribers to X’s premium offerings, according to The AP.
Addressing the developments, Musk disclosed last week that all X accounts boasting more than 2,500 verified subscriber followers would receive premium features, including the coveted checkmark, at no additional cost. Additionally, accounts with over 5,000 followers would be granted premium plus benefits free of charge.
The rationale behind this abrupt policy shift remains ambiguous, with X declining immediate comment in response to inquiries.
Reactions to the resurgence of blue checks have been varied. While some users expressed excitement over the validation, others voiced frustration and bewilderment.
Actress Yvette Nicole Brown, one of the apparent beneficiaries of the reinstated blue checkmarks, vented her confusion in a Wednesday evening post, exclaiming, “What happened? I didn’t pay for this. I would NEVER pay for this.”
As X’s blue checkmark undergoes a transformation into a perceived endorsement of the platform’s new ownership and subscription model, some users have even shared guidance on removing the unrequested verification badges through settings adjustments.
In discussions surrounding the re-emergence of blue checks, certain users shared notifications they received from X, attributing their complimentary premium subscriptions to being recognized as “influential members of the community.”
Interestingly, several Associated Press staff members also found themselves verified without requesting or paying for the privilege as of Thursday.
Beyond the blue check saga, X continues to grapple with user and advertiser discontent, fueled by ongoing concerns regarding content moderation, misinformation, and hate speech proliferation under Musk’s stewardship.
Several major brands, including IBM and NBCUniversal, withdrew their advertising from X in November following reports of their ads appearing alongside pro-Nazi content. Musk’s combative response to these concerns, characterized by expletive-laden tirades and accusations of “blackmail,” further exacerbated tensions.
In a bid to stifle criticism, X has resorted to legal action against entities documenting hate speech and racism on the platform, including the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate. However, a federal judge recently dismissed one such lawsuit, marking a setback in X’s contentious battle to reclaim ad revenue and restore its tarnished reputation.
The shift in the blue check verification process is one of the numerous changes Musk introduced to Twitter after he acquired the microblogging app. Musk has been criticized for introducing some of these changes to the platform, with many arguing that he’s heading to ruin it.
Reversing some of these decisions is believed to be an indication that Musk regrets taking them, as they contributed to the drop in X’s user base, even though Musk has always maintained that the platform’s growth rate is at an all-time high.
X is bringing back blue checkmarks for some users. A year after the company’s owner Elon Musk ditched the account verification program for paid Premium and Premium Plus models, the blue checks have begun reappearing next to some users’ names, Forbes writes. Musk said accounts with over 2,500 followers would receive some complimentary Premium benefits, including verification. Blue checks were once “coveted” when X was still Twitter, the publication notes, but they became a “badge of shame” once they were purchaseable. Their reintroduction to the site could be an attempt to boost X’s credibility and combat misinformation.