X introduces labels for parody accounts

Social media platform X is rolling out labels for parody accounts to distinguish comedic accounts from authorized profiles.

“We designed these labels to increase transparency and to ensure that users are not deceived into thinking such accounts belong to the entity being parodied,” the platform says in a post on X.

Like other accounts, profiles with a parody label must live by the same set of rules as regular accounts. These rules are specified in X’s authenticity policy. It says X doesn’t allow any activity or attempt to manipulate the platform or disrupt services through “inauthentic accounts, behaviors or content.”

This means users can’t create, operate, or register accounts that use manufactured identities to engage with other people on the platform. “This may include using stock, stolen or AI-generated profile photos, copied or stolen profile bios, and/or misleading profile information for the purpose of deceiving others,” X explains.

According to X’s authenticity policy, sharing duplicate or deceptive content in bulk is also strictly forbidden, as is sharing content that may deceive or harm people.

It does say X is allowing parody, commentary and fan accounts (PCF accounts), but only if its purpose is to discuss, satirize or share information. Users with a PCF account must add a parody label or use terms like ‘parody,’ ‘fake,’ ‘fan,’ or ‘commentary’ in their account name and bio to avoid any confusion.

Users can add the parody label to their account by navigating to Settings and Privacy > Your account > Account information, and then selecting Parody, commentary and fan account.

The parody labels will be applied to both posts and accounts on X to show people the source of the content they’re seeing.

X has been working on a parody label for quite some time. The company was, more or less, forced to do so after adapting the blue checkmarks two years ago. Originally, those were intended to indicate that an account was authentic and belonged to a specific person. Now, the checkmarks tell us that a user is paying for an X Premium subscription.

Besides blue checkmarks and PCF labels, X owner Elon Musk introduced gold checkmarks, square profile pictures, grey checkmarks, affiliation badges, automated account labels, and professional category labels.