X, formerly known as Twitter, announced an unexpected policy reversal in which it will follow owner Elon Musk's lead and provide free subscriptions and blue checkmarks to those with sizable followings. With Musk's ownership of the platform in 2022, advertising revenue and user engagement have been dropping. This sudden change is intended to breathe fresh life into the site.

The blue check mark, once reserved for verification of major accounts like celebrities and institutions, had been overhauled by Musk to be exclusive to paying subscribers, leading to the removal of the feature from thousands of accounts. However, late Wednesday, some users were astonished to find their blue ticks reinstated, accompanied by a message from the platform declaring them as "influential members" and granting them complimentary subscriptions.

Elon Musk's recent announcement stipulates that X accounts with over 2,500 verified subscriber followers will receive Premium features for free, while those with over 5,000 followers will enjoy Premium+ perks. These features include reduced ads, higher placement in feeds, and access to X's AI chatbot, Grok.

While some users interpret this move as an effort by Musk to rejuvenate the struggling platform, others express skepticism, citing concerns about content moderation and free speech. Actor Jeffrey Wright, who received an unsolicited blue check, voiced his thoughts on the matter, highlighting the complexities surrounding Musk's ownership and the platform's future trajectory.

Despite Musk's efforts to invigorate X, challenges persist, including declining advertising revenue and user activity. The appointment of Kylie McRoberts as the new head of safety underscores X's ongoing efforts to stabilize income from advertising, still a primary revenue source for the platform.

While industry metrics suggest a decline in user numbers since Musk's ownership, X maintains that platform activity has seen growth, indicating a complex landscape as the platform navigates its evolving identity under Musk's leadership.