Why Twitter Profile Pictures Are Both Square & Circle Now

Twitter has been in somewhat of an identity crisis of late (literally—remember when the site was swarmed with impersonators?). So you may forgive users for feeling confused when the platform suddenly introduced square profile pictures into an enduring sea of circles.

So what’s with the “edgy” new display pictures, you might wonder? Well, it turns out that the Elon Musk-owned social network is currently piloting Twitter Blue for Business, and square images are one of the plan’s privileges to differentiate brands and businesses from personal accounts, which will retain the circular look. As Mashable points out, Apple and Microsoft are just a few of the names that have adopted the Twitter tuxedo.

Brands like the BBC, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Bank of America are sporting the new profile picture format, too.

Twitter uses a square picture, while Musk’s account is identified as a personal account with its circle icon.

Us after seeing our new profile picture pic.twitter.com/h0a71i7TyE

— OREO Cookie (@Oreo) December 19, 2022

You may also notice that businesses are being distinguished by a gold checkmark. This is another “perk” that comes with a Twitter Blue for Business subscription.

On top of that, brands registered to this service will be able to give small badges depicting their profile pictures to other individuals, businesses, brands, journalists, and even “movie characters” affiliated with them. That’s more badges than all the ones awarded to boy and girl scouts around the world combined, one can imagine.

The profile picture badges will be worn next to the blue or gold checkmarks of the affiliated accounts.

According to an announcement Twitter made on Monday, the Twitter Blue for Business plan is “a new way for businesses and their affiliates to verify and distinguish themselves on Twitter.”

“By creating this connection, we’re making it possible for businesses to create networks within their own organizations—on Twitter. Businesses can affiliate their leadership, brands, support handles, employees or teams,” the company details. “Each affiliate will be verified and officially linked to their parent handle based on a list provided by the parent business.”

Verified government and intergovernmental accounts will receive gray ticks too.

Twitter has not revealed pricing details for the upcoming service for businesses. For now, the pilot is only extended to select business accounts, and Twitter hopes to expand availability in 2023.

[via Mashable and Variety, images via various sources]