Who's Actually Paying for the Blue Tick on X?
We looked into the politics of people who subscribe to X (formerly Twitter). Here is what the research says, explained simply.
The Usual Disclaimer
This guide is based on academic research and data available up to 2026. Social media moves fast, and algorithms change. We are breaking down complex research into simple terms. This is not political advice, just facts about an app on your phone.
What the Heck Happened to the Blue Tick?
Remember when the blue checkmark meant someone was famous? It used to mean Twitter had checked their ID to prove they were a real celebrity, journalist, or politician. It meant "this person is who they say they are."
In late 2022, Elon Musk bought Twitter, changed its name to X, and flipped the script. Now, almost anyone can get a blue tick if they pay a monthly fee (for a service called X Premium) and have a phone number. It went from a "VIP badge" to a "receipt showing you paid."
Old Twitter
- Tick = Verified identity
- Mostly celebrities, news, politicians
- Free
- Left-leaning users were the majority
New X
- Tick = Paid subscription
- Anyone with $8/month
- Gets your posts shown to more people
- User base is now about 50/50 politically
Are Blue Tick Users Mostly Right-Wing or Left-Wing?
If you scroll through X today, it might feel like conservative (right-wing) users completely took over. But the data tells a slightly different story.
Here is what researchers have found out about the politics of X and its paying users:
-
1
The total user base is actually pretty balanced.
Before Musk bought it, Twitter was mostly used by liberal (left-leaning) people. Today, the overall number of people who have accounts on X is roughly a 50/50 split between conservatives and liberals. -
2
Right-wing users are much louder.
While the total numbers are balanced, conservative users post a lot more often now. In the past, liberals posted much more. Because conservative users are more active, the content you see naturally leans to the right. -
3
What about the actual Blue Ticks?
Only a tiny sliver of users (under 1%) actually crack open their wallets for X Premium. But recent data shows this paying group heavily leans right. Why? Because the current owner caters to conservative influencers, and right-wing users quickly realized that paying a monthly fee buys them a massive megaphone to blast their political views to the top of everyone's feed.
The Secret Sauce: The Algorithm is Rigged 🤖
So why does it feel like right-wing paid accounts are everywhere? Because they literally are. The system is pushing them on purpose.
A massive 2026 study published in Nature found that if you use X's default "For You" page, the algorithm actively steers you toward conservative opinions. It promotes right-wing content while burying posts from traditional media. When you buy a Blue Tick, your posts also get a "reply boost" (meaning your comments show up first under viral posts). Add those two things together: an algorithm that loves conservative content + right-wing users paying for the boost = a feed dominated by the political right.
The TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)
So, is the blue tick basically a conservative club badge these days? Honestly, pretty much.
While normal, everyday people of all political backgrounds still use the app to check the news or follow sports, the people actually paying for X Premium are overwhelmingly right-leaning. They buy the tick to game an algorithm that is already hard-wired to push conservative viewpoints.
If you see a blue tick raging in the comments section today, they aren't a VIP or a celebrity. They are just a person who paid for a digital megaphone, and the app is more than happy to let them yell.
Written by The Editor
Making the internet slightly less confusing.