X now offers free blue checks to users with over 2,500 verified followers. However, this has caused some confusion, as users clarify that they still need to purchase the status.
The blue check was originally a Twitter feature indicating a user's influence. X has repurposed it, but it is unclear what distinguishes 'real' and 'fake' checks. Previously, a blue check indicated a user's importance, premium feature usage, frequent impersonation, or spam bot activity.