It is very difficult to understand which posts on social media are being shared as sarcasm or fun and which are presenting the truth. In particular, satire or parody accounts may confuse users. For this, Elon Musk-owned Platform X (formerly Twitter) announced the launch of labels for such accounts last Friday. Such initiatives will ensure transparency of information on the platform.
Labels have been joining the platform since last year. The purpose of adding these labels is to help users identify different types of accounts. X's new 'Parody Accounts' label will help users distinguish parody or satire accounts from genuine accounts. It will also increase the platform's security policies and information transparency.
A post on X's safety account states that the parody account label will now appear on users' main profile pages and in their posts. This label will distinguish parody or satire accounts from real personalities or their parody versions. This will eliminate confusion and create any false impression.
The platform also states that the label will clearly show the source of the content. X's new decision is in line with the platform's 'Parody, Commentary and Fan (PCF)' policy. According to this policy, it is legal to share, satirize, or discuss satirical information from parody accounts. However, the platform prohibits the impersonation of one's identity with the intention of misleading others, even without forcing users to show their true identity.
Elon Musk has long supported the decision to introduce such identifying labels. In 2022 he said, 'Parody accounts should have the word “parody” in the name, not just in the bio.'
X experimented with such a parody label last November. However, currently this label is not mandatory. Users can select the label from the platform's 'Settings'.
If an account appears to be fake or fraudulent, X users can report it using the app or the Help Center.
References: Gadgets 360
