Twitter's blue tick restored to high profile accounts

While the blue tick was originally used as a tool of authentication to help prevent the spread of fake accounts and misinformation, it is now a symbol of having subscribed to Twitter Blue, a premium service that offers various benefits. There has been controversy over Twitter's decision to remove the blue ticks of those who did not pay the subscription fee, but some high-profile accounts have had their blue ticks reinstated without payment, reportedly at Elon Musk's discretion. Twitter Blue has faced some challenges during its launch, including confusion over the distinction between subscribers and verified accounts, but there are currently around 386,000 subscribers, according to app firm Sensor Tower.