Starting April 10, X—the platform formerly known as Twitter—will begin enforcing stricter rules on parody and impersonation accounts in a move aimed at curbing confusion and restoring trust across its user base.

From now on, accounts must place the words “parody,” “fake,” or “fan” at the beginning of their usernames. That means no more sneaky “ElonMusk (parody)” handles that get truncated in replies, misleading users into thinking they’re interacting with the real deal. The platform is also banning lookalike profile images—parody accounts will need to use distinct visuals that don’t mimic those of the individuals or organizations they’re imitating.

“These changes are designed to help users better understand the unaffiliated nature of PCF accounts and reduce the risk of confusion or impersonation,” X stated on Saturday in a public announcement.

The decision comes after waves of user complaints and mounting concern about misinformation, especially involving impersonations of Elon Musk himself. Some of these accounts, while clearly meant to be humorous, have also been used to promote dubious giveaways and cryptocurrency schemes. One fake Musk account, boasting over a million followers, recently racked up hundreds of thousands of likes and replies by promising a free Tesla to anyone who commented.

The new rules aren’t just for comedians—they also apply to fan pages and commentary profiles, meaning anyone discussing celebrities, public figures, or brands must clearly declare their unofficial status. Parody has always had a place in online culture, but as X’s verification system has become blurred, so has the line between satire and manipulation.

Critics, however, remain skeptical. Some argue these policies are too little, too late, and question whether enforcement will be consistent. Even the EU stepped in last year, accusing X’s blue tick system of enabling deception, calling its “verified” program a potential breach of online content laws.

As Elon Musk pushes back on regulation—calling the EU’s criticism “misinformation”—the platform he leads is under growing pressure to prove it can govern itself responsibly.

Read more via the official BBC report.