Some Twitter profile pics are now square. Here's why.

Have you noticed that some profile pics on Twitter are now square instead of round?

The change is part of the new Twitter Blue for Business, which is rolling out now. The first change you'll notice is that brands and businesses now have a square profile pic instead of a round one. This includes Twitter itself, Apple, Microsoft, and Mashable, for example.

Also, businesses that have signed up for Twitter Blue for Business now get a gold checkmark. And finally, companies can now give individuals, businesses, and brands who are affiliated with them a small badge of their company's profile picture, which will be displayed next to their checkmark.

"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. Journalists, sports team players or movie characters can all be affiliated. [...] Each affiliate will be verified and officially linked to their parent handle based on a list provided by the parent business," said Twitter in an announcement post, adding that more will be shared on how all of this is done at a later date.

Here it is, the gold checkmark in all its glory (also note the square profile pic). Credit: Mashable

Right now, Twitter Blue for Business is a pilot project which is open only to a "select group of businesses." Twitter says it will roll this out to more businesses "next year."

It's worth noting that government and "multilateral" accounts are getting a special, gray checkmark, which should launch "soon."

As for the new profile picture shape, this is not the first deviation from a circle Twitter has made. If you use an NFT as your profile picture, you can get a hexagonal profile pic.