Elon Musk's X has initiated a program to recognize and reward influential users by granting them access to premium features, including coveted verification badges known as "blue checks," per CNBC.

The rollout started late Wednesday, Apr. 3, and extends complimentary subscriptions to select users who have garnered significant traction within the X community.

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Who Are Eligible For X Free Premium Features?

According to Musk on X, accounts with more than 2,500 verified subscriber followers will receive Premium features at no cost, while those exceeding 5,000 followers will enjoy the Premium+ tier for free.

While X Premium typically operates as a paid subscription service offering three tiers, users who subscribe to these tiers gain exclusive benefits, such as displaying a blue checkmark on their profiles. The subscription fees range from $32 annually for the Basic tier to $168 for Premium+.

On Wednesday, numerous users, including some CNBC reporters, were notified of their eligibility for complimentary subscriptions to recognize their influence on X.

However, the company emphasized its right to revoke these subscriptions at its discretion. The duration of free access to premium features also remains uncertain, and users' ability to opt out of the service is unclear at this time.

Musk's introduction of subscriptions to X aims to diversify the platform's revenue streams, particularly in light of declining advertising revenues following his controversial Twitter takeover in late 2022.

Several major advertisers, including Disney and Apple, paused their online advertising campaigns on X after Musk endorsed a conspiracy theory in November 2023.

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