Shubham Sawarkar
X (formerly Twitter) has introduced an option for its X Blue subscribers (formerly Twitter Blue) to hide their infamous blue checkmarks. The development comes as part of X’s ongoing efforts to revamp its platform and make its subscription-based service, formerly known as Twitter Blue, now renamed as X Blue, more appealing to users.
The blue checkmark, once a symbol of verification and credibility, underwent significant transformations when tech mogul Elon Musk opened the floodgates to anyone willing to pay for an X Blue subscription. The resulting chaos saw the proliferation of fake verified accounts, leading to confusion among users and the dilution of the checkmark’s significance. As a consequence, X eventually stripped legacy verified accounts of their blue checkmarks and altered the display of verification badges multiple times. Presently, blue checkmarks are primarily assigned to accounts with one million or more followers.
With the introduction of X Blue, Twitter Blue subscribers are now presented with an intriguing option to conceal their blue checkmarks. The blue verification badge, which used to serve as a prominent display of account verification, will be discreetly tucked away from public view on both profile pages and posts. However, it is important to note that while the checkmark may be hidden, some features and areas of the platform might still reveal the user’s active subscription status.
According to a Twitter support article, “The checkmark will be hidden on your profile and posts. The checkmark may still appear in some places and some features could still reveal you have an active subscription. Some features may not be available while your checkmark is hidden.” This offers X Blue subscribers greater control over their public image and provides them with the choice of being more discreet about their subscription status.
Additionally, for those who opt to display their verification badge, X Blue now includes an added feature: a “verified since” date will be attached to the blue checkmark on their profile. This provides users with a clear indication of when their account received verification, thus establishing a more transparent timeline of their online presence.
Amidst these updates, Elon Musk, the owner of X, has undertaken an ambitious endeavor to rebrand the service, now aiming to transform it into an “everything app.” This move suggests a broader strategy to integrate various functionalities and services into X’s ecosystem, possibly paving the way for a future payment system and further diversifying the user experience.
Signs of the rebranding effort are already evident, as the iconic blue bird logo synonymous with Twitter has given way to the enigmatic “X” logo. In a spectacle that left Twitter enthusiasts intrigued and curious, the “interim” X logo briefly adorned Twitter’s San Francisco office building in the form of an extravagant flashing and strobing sign.
Although the rebranding to X Blue is underway, references to the former name, Twitter Blue, continue to be spotted throughout the platform. The X Blue subscription page, for instance, prominently mentions Twitter Blue multiple times, hinting at a gradual transition and an acknowledgment of the platform’s rich history.
As Twitter’s rebranding efforts gather momentum, the introduction of the hidden blue checkmark represents a notable step towards providing subscribers with greater control over their online presence and how they engage with the platform’s community. While the blue verification badge may have had a tumultuous past, its transformation within the X Blue ecosystem signals Twitter’s commitment to adapt and evolve in response to user feedback and changing social media dynamics.
