X, previously known as Twitter, has made a noteworthy policy change by granting blue ticks to its most “influential” users.
Individuals who possess over 2,500 verified followers, specifically those who are already subscribed to X Premium, have been granted complimentary access to premium features.
In addition to the blue tick, users will experience a reduction in the number of advertisements on X.
Originally, blue ticks served the purpose of verifying users’ identities. However, things took a turn when Elon Musk acquired the platform, and blue ticks became a feature that users had to pay for.
However, based on reports from individuals who have received the features, it appears that it is now being provided free of charge to individuals who are considered influential members of the community.
Users with a premium account enjoy the benefit of having their tweets ranked higher when responding to others. Additionally, they have the opportunity to apply for revenue sharing from advertisements on the site.
Additionally, individuals who have amassed over 5,000 verified followers are now able to enjoy complimentary access to Premium+. This exclusive feature not only eliminates the majority of advertisements but also boosts the visibility of their tweets when engaging in conversations with others.
Following Mr. Musk’s announcement in late March, the feature has been introduced.
Going forward, all 𝕏 accounts with over 2500 verified subscriber followers will get Premium features for free and accounts with over 5000 will get Premium+ for free
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 28, 2024
Prior to being acquired by Mr. Musk, the blue tick used to be a symbol of verification that was provided by the platform at no cost.
Originally, it served as a means of authentication, with the intention of combating fake accounts and curbing the dissemination of misinformation.
The blue tick used to be regarded as a symbol of a user’s credibility on the platform, as it was only granted to a select few individuals, including celebrities, government officials, and journalists.
Mr. Musk had a strong dislike for this system, as he expressed his criticism of it for creating a division between different social classes.
With the billionaire’s influence, the blue tick transformed into a symbol indicating that an account had subscribed to X Premium, formerly known as Twitter Blue, and underwent a verification process tied to the payment.
However, it has now evolved into a blend of the two, where an individual is considered notable based on the number of followers they have, along with the presence of a verification checkmark.
