Elon Musk is giving out free Premium and Premium Plus benefits to accounts with a high number of verified followers. But not everyone is happy about it.
On Wednesday, some X users posted about seeing the familiar blue check next to their handles despite not paying for those subscriptions. The change has come just over five months after Musk launched two subscription tiers on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Last week, Musk announced that users with more than 2,500 paying followers would get free Premium access, which comes with reduced ads and other benefits. He said those with more than 5,000 such followers would receive free Premium Plus, a more expensive tier that removes ads, among other perks.
The check was once a coveted status symbol given to verified high-profile users, including journalists, celebrities, politicians, and official agencies. But after Musk took over in 2022, users’ blue ticks disappeared and became a badge anyone could purchase. The change made it harder for users to spot authentic accounts, and misinformation has flourished on X under Musk’s leadership.
Wednesday’s partial return of the free blue check led to a spate of jokes on the platform.
Posts from accounts that received the badge show the checkmark isn’t just being awarded to accounts associated with people.
FYI. Room Rater seems to have had the Blue Check restored. No idea how or why. Nothing we initiated.
— Room Rater (@ratemyskyperoom) April 4, 2024
Several users defended themselves, writing on Twitter that they didn’t pay for the badge.
“Twitter is so terrible, I am embarrassed by the stigma of an automaticaly granted blue check!” would be more persuasive if you didn’t post on Twitter constantly. (This is a subtweet but of like 70 different people.)
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) April 4, 2024
Just FYI, I didn’t pay for the blue check.
— Dr. Yara Hawari د. يارا هواري (@yarahawari) April 3, 2024
The platform is popular with journalists. But some (including at least one of Business Insider’s reporters) don’t seem thrilled about their new status.
My wife just offered me condolences on my new blue check
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 4, 2024
Other users say they’re relieved they haven’t been subject to one yet.
I presume not having a new blue check mark means I’m the cool one. 🤷♂️
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) April 4, 2024
Some people are excited about their new badge.
One user just wants it gone.
.@elonmusk can you remove the blue check mark I didn’t pay for? Thanks.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) April 4, 2024
Correction: April 4, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated when Elon Musk launched the two subscription tiers on X. They were launched just over five months ago, not just over six months ago.
