X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, will be removing the option for Premium users to hide their blue checkmarks. The new policy was first spotted on April 12.
“The hide your checkmark feature of X Premium is going away soon,” the notification read.
This development on X comes a week after the platform gave out free Premium subscriptions to influential accounts that were not already subscribed. Along with the subscription came the blue checkmarks, whether these new Premium users wanted it or not.
Prior to Elon Musk’s decision to monetise the blue checkmark as part of his sweeping changes, including the platform’s name change, the check was only given to verified celebrities, from politicians to athletes.
Now, the checkmark is simply an indicator that the X user paid for a Premium subscription, and after it was abused by scammers, impersonators and harassers, it became a mark of shame.
Due to the stigma attached to the checkmark, many of the new Premium and Premium+ users chose to hide the icons. Once the removal of the hide feature rolls out sitewide, hiding will no longer be an option.
