X Expands Blue Tick Access to “Influential” Users in Policy Shift
In a significant policy shift, X, formerly known as Twitter, is granting blue ticks to its most “influential” users, marking a departure from its previous verification strategy.
Under the new policy, users with over 2,500 verified followers who are already subscribed to X Premium will receive premium features at no additional cost. Alongside the coveted blue tick, these users will experience a reduction in advertisements displayed on the platform.
Furthermore, X is taking steps to combat bot accounts, leading to potential decreases in follower numbers for some users.
Originally, blue ticks served as a means to authenticate users’ identities, but they evolved into a paid feature after Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform. However, recent messages received by select users indicate that blue ticks are now being distributed without charge to individuals deemed “influential members of the community.”
Premium users will also benefit from having their tweets ranked higher in reply threads and gain eligibility for revenue sharing from platform advertisements.
Moreover, users with more than 5,000 verified followers will receive complimentary access to Premium+, a tier that offers ad-free browsing and further prioritisation of their tweets in reply threads.
This policy change comes on the heels of Elon Musk’s announcement of the feature in late March.
Before Musk’s tenure, the blue tick was a symbol of verification bestowed freely by the platform. Initially intended for authentication purposes, it was instrumental in combating fake accounts and misinformation dissemination.
Traditionally, the blue tick signified a user’s authority on the platform, reserved for select individuals such as celebrities, government officials, and journalists.
Musk, however, criticised this exclusivity, condemning it as fostering a divide between “lords and peasants.”
Under his leadership, the blue tick transformed into a marker of subscription to X Premium, previously known as Twitter Blue, with verification linked to subscription status.
Now, the blue tick serves as a blend of both functions, indicating prominence based on the user’s follower count and the presence of their own blue tick.
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