Twitter Profile Pictures With Hex-Shaped Avatars Indicate NFTs

Twitter has become the latest to join the burgeoning non-fungible tokens (NFT) frenzy. If someone’s profile picture has a new hexagonal border with an avatar,  then they are into NFTs.

Twitter on Thursday rolled out a new feature of NFT profile photos, where subscribers of ‘Twitter Blue’ can display their NFTs as hex-shaped profile pictures – different from typical profile photos.

Users can click on the NFT profile pics to get more information about the collectible including where it is listed.

“Setting up an NFT profile picture means people can associate your Twitter account with your connected wallet’s public crypto wallet address,” it read. This will verify the ownership of NFT.

gm!

You asked (a lot), so we made it. Now rolling out in Labs: NFT Profile Pictures on iOS pic.twitter.com/HFyspS4cQW

— Twitter Blue (@TwitterBlue) January 20, 2022

Twitter says that currently NFTs in JPEG and PNG formats, minted on the Ethereum blockchain (ERC-721, ERC-1155 tokens) can be used.

Currently, the new NFT profile pic feature is available to subscribers using iOS app, in countries including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However, everyone on Twitter will be able to see the NFT profile pics irrespective of what platform they are using.

Twitter Blue is a $3-per-month subscription service that gives access to premium features and app customizations such as undo Tweet, pinning conversations, among others.

What About “Right-Clickers”?

Twitter said in September 2021 that it would add means for its users to authenticate NFTs, which is now live with the integration of the owner’s crypto wallet. But the question that’s spinning many heads is what is stopping them from “right-clicking” the NFT profile image and saving it for later use.

For instance, a Twitter user has gone the extra mile in demonstrating how to download an NFT profile pic – just like a normal profile image.

how to steal a Twitter NFT profile photo pic.twitter.com/1jAHjUfl3o

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) January 20, 2022

Another user tweeted that “NFT is not safe in its hexagon bubble.”

oh yea by the way, if you set your NFT as your twitter profile pic, the image can still be opened and downloaded. your NFT is not safe in its hexagon bubble pic.twitter.com/wo9T5t2ETK

— Roxanne🌺 (@cyansorcery) January 21, 2022

This has been a growing concern among NFT owners and creators recently. One digital artist Lois van Baarle said in December that there have been 132 instances of her creation being minted as NFTs on OpenSea marketplace, “without her permission.”

today I found out that searching my own name on @opensea brings up 132 instances where my art was minted as NFTs without my permission. apparently the only way to get them removed is by writing individual emails for each listing, which I literally don't have the time for.

— Loish (@loishh) December 13, 2021

Another well-known artist Shepard Fairey, who designed the Barack Obama “Hope” poster for the 2008 U.S. presidential election, complained saying an imposter on Rarible NFT marketplace tried to sell his work as an NFT.

Even though a right-clicker tries to download and use NFT without buying the token, they can only be able to use the image and it will still be visible under the traditional circle frame.

Twitter has not yet clarified over NFT profile picture protections against stealing it.

Twitter’s NFT Saga

Twitter’s NFT integration comes at a time when social media firms are coming up exploring the NFT craze. Rival Meta (Facebook) for instance is considering to explore the NFT space.

Twitter announced last year that it was building a crypto team to focus on cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, blockchain, NFTs and related technologies.

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined Twitter, to lead a new team focused on crypto, blockchains, and other decentralized technologies—including and going beyond cryptocurrencies.✨ pic.twitter.com/HaP0k5hUOq

— Tess Rinearson (@_tessr) November 10, 2021

In July’21, Twitter’s Ex-CEO and founder Jack Dorsey said that Bitcoin would play a “big part” in the company’s future. Following which, the company introduced the feature for users to tip creators using Bitcoin.