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Previously, the blue checkmark was reserved for celebrities and institutions, but Musk revised the criteria to include paying subscribers only. He also announced that accounts with over 2,500 verified subscriber followers would receive Premium features for free. Some users view this as an attempt to revive the struggling platform, amidst declining advertising income and user numbers.

Users with large followings will receive a free subscription to X, previously Twitter, as well as the platform’s iconic blue check, the firm announced in another policy shift.

Before Musk, the blue checkmark was used to verify significant accounts such as celebrities, institutions, and journalists.

But Musk considered the method as unfair to regular users and changed the blue checks so that they only went to paying subscribers, depriving thousands of holders of the benefit.

Some users were shocked, if not outraged, to see the blue tick reappear late Wednesday.

A message from the platform claimed that they received free subscriptions since they were a “influential member” of X.

The site also stated that it “reserves the right to cancel the complimentary subscription in its sole discretion.”

Last week, Musk said that “going forward, all X accounts with over 2,500 verified subscriber followers will get Premium features for free and accounts with over 5,000 will get Premium+ for free.”

Premium or Premium+ advantages include fewer advertisements, higher placement in the platform’s feeds, and access to Grok, X’s AI chatbot.

Some users who received the blue check regarded it as Musk’s attempt to resuscitate the faltering site.

“Translation: Pay $8? Kidding. Help me. “But don’t say anything too free-spirited about me or my Garbage Tower of Babel,” actor Jeffrey Wright, who received an unsolicited cheque, wrote on X.

Since Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, the platform’s advertising income has crumbled as marketers have soured on his leadership and the company’s mass firings, which have weakened content moderation.

X selected industry veteran Kylie McRoberts as the new director of safety on Tuesday in an effort to boost revenue from advertising, which remains the site’s primary source of income.

According to most industry measurements, X has lost users since Musk gained ownership, although the business claims that activity on the site has increased.