Elon Musk Offers Free Blue Checkmarks on X to High-Profile Users

In a bid to reverse declining user engagement, Musk abandons paid verification system.

Elon Musk reverses course on paid blue checkmarks on X, offering them for free to high-profile users in a bid to increase platform engagement.
The move is seen as an attempt to recover from the platform's declining user base and attract back influential figures who had left.
Musk's original plan required users to pay for blue checkmarks, aiming to build a subscription business and reduce reliance on advertising.
The paid checkmark system faced criticism for undermining identity verification and becoming a symbol of fealty to Musk.
X's daily usage has plummeted over the last year, with significant drops in both daily and active users.