X to remove option to hide blue checkmarks for premium users

X (formerly Twitter) has decided to remove the option for Premium users to hide their blue checkmarks. This decision was communicated to users via a notification on Thursday, stating, “The hide your checkmark feature of X Premium is going away soon. Tap to manage your X Premium features.”

The reasoning behind this change remains opaque, as X has not provided any specific explanation for the removal of this feature. The timeline for this change is also uncertain, leaving users to anticipate when the feature will be permanently unavailable.

This change has been met with discontent from some users, who prefer not to display the blue check on their accounts. The blue checkmark, a sign of verification on the platform, was made optional last summer but will now be mandatory for all premium users.

Earlier this month, X also introduced a new initiative to assign blue badges to profiles of users who have at least 2,500 followers and are also premium subscribers. In addition, X began offering its Premium subscription to these users, and a Premium+ subscription to users who have over 5,000 verified followers. This move suggests a concerted effort by X to increase the visibility and prestige of its Premium and Premium+ user base.