X reintroduces blue ticks for influencers: a return to basics
April 9, 2024
X announced that it will award free blue ticks to users who have more than 2,500 “verified” followers. These followers are people who have signed up for X Premium. Popular users will receive blue ticks but not everyone seems happy with this decision. Many people are trying to make it clear that they did not purchase the tick, but were given it without their consent.
The true meaning of blue ticks
In the past, blue ticks on Twitter indicated that a user was influential in some way. Over the years, however, the meaning of the blue check has changed. Today, many people get the tick just to feel important or to access X’s premium features. Some also get it because they are often impersonated. However, the “blue check” still does not clearly distinguish an influential user from a mere troll.
X’s new approach
With X ‘s announcement to assign “blue check” to influential users, it seems that the company is trying to get back to the roots of blue checkmarks. The goal is to identify users who are relevant in the social media world and who can help reduce the spread of misinformation. In this way, X hopes to restore trust in the platform and provide users with a better browsing experience.
User reactions
Not all users are enthusiastic about X ‘s decision to assign “blue check” to influential users. Some feel that this move may lead to greater division among users and does not solve the problem of identifying true influencers. Still others fear that the “blue check” could be easily manipulated or bought.
