Elon Musk’s initiative to grant free Premium memberships to accounts with at least 2,500 followers who are already Premium subscribers has resulted in an unforeseen consequence.
Following Musk’s announcement last week, numerous X users have reported seeing the familiar blue “Verified” checkmark next to their handles, despite not being paid subscribers to either tier of X. This move marks a departure from the previous criteria for verification, which was typically reserved for celebrities, politicians, journalists, and other public figures.
Previously, verified status was linked to purchasing a Premium membership. However, with Musk’s intervention, verified status was reinstated for many accounts with large followings, regardless of their subscription status.
It appears that many influential X accounts with substantial followings are now receiving verification status, whether they requested it or not. Users who were verified under this new scheme received a message detailing the update.
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