• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Can Elon Musk’s X Fix Its Rampant Fake Sports News Problem?

 X quietly rolled out a new policy aimed to crack down on parody and impersonation accounts.

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Elon Musk looks on before Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Twitter quietly rolled out a new policy for fan and parody accounts, aiming to clearly distinguish parody, commentary, and fan accounts from the real deal. One of the most popular sports parody accounts jokingly took credit for X’s promised crackdown on these parody accounts. 

NBA Centel, a spoof of NBA Central —which parodies NBA Central, a pro basketball news account with 1.8 million followers—has long disclosed the account is a parody in its profile, essentially called X’s new policy “The Centel Rule.”

That tweet from over the weekend has more than five million views, even as not much is known about how X will enforce its new policy that went live on the company’s website two weeks ago. In settings, there’s now an option to designate your account as a parody. 

“I’m cool with it,” Centel told Front Office Sports when asked about the addition of the parody label.  

While the option to enable a PCF label is live, the actual badges don’t appear to be as of Tuesday morning. 

NBA Centel didn’t have the badge at the time of publication. The fake NFL insider Wesley Steinberg, another account FOS has profiled previously, also does not have a parody badge and still doesn’t state in its profile that the “news” it conveys is totally made up. None of the dozens of accounts purporting to be NBA insider Shams Charania reviewed by FOS have the new parody badge (and most don’t have “parody” in their profiles). 

Meanwhile, Bluesky—which has grown to 24 million users, many seeking an alternative to X—is working on its own impersonation policy and “quadrupled the size” of its moderation team, the company said.

“Parody, satire, or fan accounts are allowed on Bluesky, but they must clearly label themselves in both the display name and bio to help others know the account isn’t official,” Bluesky posted on its official safety account. “Accounts with only one of these elements will receive an impersonation label.”

If X enforces its new policy, it would be the most notable step it has taken to limit the spread of fake news since Elon Musk purchased the site two years ago, fired about 80% of staff, and changed the name from Twitter to X. 

“Accounts may depict another entity as long as they clearly distinguish themselves in their account name and bio,” the new X policy states. “Both should clearly indicate the account is not affiliated with the subject portrayed in the profile. Accounts can indicate this by incorporating words such as, but not limited to, ‘parody,’ ‘fake,’ ‘fan,’ or ‘commentary.’ This language should be stated in a way that can be understood by any audience and should not be contradicted by other affiliation terminology such as ‘official.’”

Among the consequences of violating the new PCF policy include restricting reach, loss of access to features, and suspension. 

X did not respond to a request for comment. 

Parody accounts have been part of Twitter since the social network launched in 2006 and a verification system was developed after Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa sued the company for trademark infringement, misappropriation of his name/likeness, and invasion of privacy in 2009. 

La Russa, who took issue with an account pretending to be him that made light of his DUI arrest years earlier, dropped the lawsuit after Twitter announced it would develop a verification system. 

For more than a decade, Twitter users became accustomed to seeing a blue check mark that noted celebrities, politicians, journalists, and other prominent figures were indeed who they say they are. 

That system was undone by Musk last year when he moved to strip legacy check marks and make them available to anyone who wanted to pay $8 a month for X Premium. That decision spawned several new impersonator accounts with check marks, which was exacerbated by the rollout of the current monetization scheme that rewards those accounts for outlandish and false posts that are paid for engagement.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Maverick Carter, LeBron James
exclusive

New International Basketball League Plans Launch, Without Maverick Carter

The venture plans to launch men’s and women’s leagues next fall.
Bucks

Bucks Reportedly Discussed Giannis Deal With Knicks This Summer

Antetokounmpo’s future will be a major NBA storyline this year.

Amazon Adds Golf to Its Packed Black Friday Sports Lineup With NFL,..

On Nov. 28, The Skins Game will return for the first time since 2008.
Scott Foster

NBA Refs Testing Earpieces in Preseason Games

The technology won’t be used in the regular season yet.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.
October 7, 2025

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Josh McCray (2) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) in the second half at Sanford Stadium.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

College Football Viewership Is Up Double Digits. Here’s Why

Average game viewership is up by more than 10% so far.
The NBC Sports broadcast team works Michigan State's football game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2025

NBC Sports, Peacock Stay on YouTube TV With Long-Term Deal

The broad-based agreement keeps NBC channels with the key distributor.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October 1, 2025

Alabama-Georgia Draws 10.4M Viewers, Drives Record CFB Season Pace

ABC drew 10.4 million viewers for Alabama-Georgia.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) pulls down a touchdown reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
September 24, 2025

Packers-Cowboys Game Is Getting Super Bowl–Like NBC Treatment

The network will bring its pregame show to Dallas.