X Introduces Stricter Labelling Rules for Parody and Fan Accounts

X, formerly known as Twitter, is introducing new guidelines for parody, commentary, and fan accounts in an effort to reduce confusion and improve transparency across the platform. Starting April 10, these types of accounts will be required to include clearly defined labels at the start of their account names and must avoid using identical profile images to the figures or entities they reference.

Accounts falling under the PCF umbrella must now include descriptors such as “parody,” “fake,” “fan,” or “commentary” at the beginning of their display names. This change addresses an issue with truncated names in feed view, where labels like “(parody)” at the end of a profile name often go unseen. The update also prohibits these accounts from using the same avatars as the profiles they mimic.

According to the company, the move aims to enhance clarity, particularly in cases where parody or fan accounts resemble official profiles. As X explained: “We’re rolling out updates to improve transparency for Parody, Commentary, and Fan (PCF) accounts on our platform.” The policy applies even to accounts already marked with X’s “Parody” label, adding another layer of enforcement to the platform’s evolving identity verification rules.

These changes come amid ongoing scrutiny of X’s verification practices. Since Elon Musk overhauled the system to allow any user to purchase a blue checkmark, the platform has faced criticism for eroding the meaning of account verification. Although X Premium offers extra features, including early access to the Grok AI chatbot, uptake has remained limited – with only about 1.3 million subscribers out of X’s 600 million reported monthly active users.