X is bringing in stricter rules around parody accounts. From 10 April, accounts which impersonate another user or person must use key words such as "fake" or "parody" at the start of their account names. The platform will also require parody account holders to use different images to the X accounts belonging to those they seek to represent. Some users have complained about confusion caused by parody accounts on the platform, such as those impersonating its owner Elon Musk. "These changes are designed to help users better understand the unaffiliated nature of PCF accounts and reduce the risk of confusion or impersonation," the companysaid in a post on Saturday. It encouraged affected accounts to update their profiles by the enforcement date. The changes will also apply for fan and commentary accounts, it said. "Hopefully this includes all the thousands of fake variations of Elon Musk accounts," wrote one user in response to X's post about its policy update. "About time, I get a fake Elon account contacting me almost once a week," wrote another. There are a number of parody accounts for the platform's owner, identifying themselves as impersonations in various ways. Posts viewed by the BBC from Elon Musk parody accounts ranged from memes and jokes, to promoting cryptocurrency and car giveaways. A recent post by one Elon Musk parody account, which has more than one million followers, told users to "like and comment" for the chance to win a Tesla. The post has received 428,000 likes and more than 200,000 replies. X rolled out labels for parody accounts in January - building onits rules requiringusers engaging in impersonation for the purpose of entertainment to identify themselves as such. These, and the platform's blue tick verification system, have been cited as tools to prevent misleading impersonation while allowing speech and discussion. But the effectiveness of such measures have been disputed. The EU said in July 2024 that the blue ticks breached its online content rules, with its "verified" blue tick accountshaving the potential to "deceive" users. Musk called the EU's rules "misinformation", in response. Following his takeover in November 2022, the Tesla chief executive saidaccounts engaging in unlabelled impersonation would be banned. Many parody accounts on X identify their parody nature in brackets at the end of user names, but this is not a fool-proof measure. If a parody account's name is particularly long, and only a shortened version appears in feeds or replies, users can unwittingly duped - especially if the account's image matches that of the real person. Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletterto follow the world's top tech stories and trends.Outside the UK? Sign up here.
Elon Musk's X to clamp down on parody accounts
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"X Introduces New Rules for Parody Accounts to Reduce Impersonation Confusion"
Bbc News
8.0
TruthLens AI Summary
X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, is implementing stricter regulations regarding parody accounts, effective from April 10. Under the new rules, accounts that impersonate other users must include keywords such as 'fake' or 'parody' at the beginning of their usernames. Additionally, these accounts are required to use distinct profile images that differ from the accounts they aim to mimic. This initiative comes in response to user complaints about the confusion caused by parody accounts, particularly those impersonating Musk himself. A company statement emphasized that these changes are intended to clarify the unaffiliated nature of parody accounts and to mitigate the risks associated with impersonation. Users affected by these new guidelines are encouraged to update their profiles before the enforcement date. The policy changes will also extend to fan and commentary accounts, indicating a broader effort to maintain clarity and authenticity on the platform.
The issue of impersonation on X has gained attention due to the proliferation of parody accounts, many of which feature humorous content such as memes and jokes. Some accounts, boasting significant followings, have even engaged in promotional activities, like offering chances to win a Tesla. While X had previously introduced labels for parody accounts earlier this year as part of its strategy to combat misleading impersonation, the effectiveness of these measures has been questioned. Critics, including the European Union, have expressed concerns that the platform's verification system could potentially mislead users. Following Musk's acquisition of the platform in late 2022, he pledged to ban accounts engaging in unlabelled impersonation. Despite some parody accounts identifying their nature, the potential for user deception remains, especially when names and images closely resemble those of real individuals. This ongoing issue highlights the complexity of managing identity and authenticity in the digital age, as X seeks to balance user engagement with the need for clarity and trustworthiness on its platform.
TruthLens AI Analysis
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