X is introducing tougher guidelines for parody accounts. Starting 10 April, profiles mimicking another individual or user will need to incorporate terms like “mock” or “satire” at the beginning of their account titles.
The platform will also mandate that owners of parody accounts select distinct visuals, separate from the images used by the X profiles they aim to emulate. Certain users have voiced concerns over the bewilderment sparked by parody accounts on the network, including those posing as its founder, Elon Musk. “These adjustments aim to clarify the independent status of PCF accounts for users, minimizing the chances of misunderstanding or identity theft,” the company announced in a statement on Saturday.
It urged impacted profiles to revise their details before the enforcement deadline. The updates will extend to fan and commentary pages as well, it noted.
“Fingers crossed this covers the countless sham Elon Musk account variations,” remarked one user in reaction to X’s policy update post. “High time, too I’m messaged by a bogus Elon profile nearly weekly,” another chimed in. Numerous parody accounts mimicking the platform’s owner exist, signaling their spoof nature in diverse ways.
BBC-observed posts from Elon Musk satire accounts spanned from humorous memes and quips to pitching cryptocurrency and vehicle giveaways. A recent entry by an Elon Musk parody profile, boasting over one million followers, invited users to “like and comment” for a shot at winning a Tesla. That post garnered 428,000 likes and over 200,000 responses. X introduced tags for parody profiles in January, enhancing its existing regulations that require users impersonating others for amusement to declare their intent.
These measures, alongside the platform’s blue tick authentication, have been highlighted as mechanisms to curb deceptive mimicry while fostering dialogue and expression. Yet, their success remains contested. In July 2024, the EU argued that the blue ticks violated its digital content laws, suggesting that “verified” blue tick profiles could “mislead” audiences. Musk dismissed the EU’s regulations as “falsehoods” in reply. After acquiring the platform in November 2022, the Tesla visionary stated that profiles conducting unmarked impersonation would face suspension.
Many parody profiles on X denote their satirical essence with brackets at the end of usernames, though this isn’t an infallible safeguard. When a parody account’s title is excessively lengthy, and only an abbreviated form shows in feeds or replies, users might be unintentionally misled—particularly if the profile picture mirrors that of the authentic figure.
