I think we all will agree that the distribution of sacred blue checkmark on Twitter accounts was really unfair. Only famous people have the privilege to get that blue tick while common people like us were overlooked. But not anymore. Twitter has restarted its public verification program. In other words, it will open public applications for verification. Besides that it has also introduced new guidelines for verified accounts. In today’s article we will talk about this Twitter update.
Let’s jump right in
What is the latest Twitter update?
Twitter has once again started accepting public applications from users looking for verification and rolling out new guidelines to follow in order to keep that verified badge. Twitter actually used to accept public applications for verification before November 2017. at that time Twitter said that it stopped accepting public applications for verification due to people’s perception that a verified badge inferred an endorsement.
On November 9, 2017 Twitter shared this tweet “Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance. We recognize that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. We have paused all general verification while we work and will report back soon” then last year it announced that it will relaunch its Public verification program in 2021 which would be a bit changed from the older one.
People have gained the understanding of what a verified badge means. Now, users will be able to submit their applications for verification.
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What is Twitter ‘verified’ ?
According to Twitter, the blue badge indicates that an account of high public interest is authentic and original. It does not mean anything more than that. Verification badge can be removed on grounds of repeated violations of Twitter’s guidelines and rules.
New guidelines will allow Twitter to remove the blue badge for the following reasons
- The account is no longer active or not complete
- The individual is not , at this point in the position which at first made them qualified for verification
- Endeavors made to imitate or deceive users by changing display name or bio
- Serious infringement committed that bring about immediate suspension.
These new guidelines will restrain people from misinterpreting the verification badge as endorsements from Twitter. So if you are a verified Twitter user, stay away from bad practices and stay verified.
What is the eligibility criteria to verify your account?
We saw how you can stay verified, now let’s see how will you get the blue badge in the first place? You must fit into one of the six categories listed below in order to become eligible for verification
- Government
- Companies, brands and organizations
- Entertainment
- Sports and gaming
- Journalists and news organizations
- Activists, organizers and other influential individuals
Your account must be complete with the right profile name, picture and either a confirmed email address or mobile number. Besides that, your account should be active within the last 6 months and must have a history of compliance with Twitter rules and guidelines.
How you can apply for Twitter verification?
Users will be able to access Twitter verification from the Twitter’s app Account Settings Tab. The gradual roll out means few people may access it now and other people will be able to access it some time later. With this method, twitter can guarantee all applications are managed in an ideal way. The application process comprises of informing Twitter which of the qualified categories you belong to and then giving your ID which will prove your identity.
After you submit the application, Twitter will take few days to weeks to respond to your application. If you spot the blue tick on your profile then it means your application has been approved. Twitter has also stated that it is planning to add some more categories to the eligibility criteria like scientists, academicians and religious leaders.
Wrapping up
This is one of the most awaited decisions of Twitter. Because today we are talking about cyber security and privacy on social media. There are many fake accounts operating on Twitter that spread hate messages and explicit content. Sometimes users can’t differentiate between a fake and a real account. This move will help people identify the authentic accounts and along with that Twitter will be better equipped to spot the fake accounts spreading hate and negativity on Twitter.
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