X's 'complimentary' Premium push grants unrequested blue checkmarks

In an unexpected turn of events, Elon Musk's initiative to grant free Premium memberships to high-follower X accounts has led to a surge in the number of blue checkmarks given to unsuspecting users.

Following Musk's announcement, numerous X users have reported the sudden appearance of the blue "Verified" check next to their profiles, despite not having subscribed to any paid X membership tiers. This move comes as Musk declared that accounts with over 2,500 "verified subscriber followers" would receive a complimentary Premium membership, while those with over 5,000 would be entitled to a Premium Plus membership.

Traditionally, the verified symbol on X, akin to Twitter's blue checkmark, was reserved for celebrities, public figures, and notable personalities. However, the introduction of paid verification changed the landscape, allowing anyone with a Premium subscription to obtain the badge.

Previously verified X users who opted out of paid subscriptions were losing their checks, but Musk's recent move has restored them for many influential accounts, regardless of their preferences.