Twitter has announced that, as of today, it will be rolling out its new verification application process, and reviewing public applications for verification on Twitter.
The latest milestone in Twitter’s plans to provide greater transparency, credibility and clarity to verification on Twitter, the announcement follows the development and launch of a new policy shaped by public feedback in Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. The policy is being rolled-out across the platform with the automatic removal of the verified badge from accounts that no longer meet the updated criteria for verification, such as those that are inactive or incomplete.
What it means to be verified on Twitter
The blue badge is one of the ways Twitter helps people distinguish the authenticity of accounts that are of high public interest. It gives people on Twitter more context about who they’re having conversations with so they can determine if it’s trustworthy, which our research has shown leads to healthier, more informed conversations.
With today’s application launch, Twitter is also introducing new guidelines for verified accounts. These verification guidelines are intended to encourage healthy conversations for the betterment of the Twitter community overall. They follow the philosophy to lead by example, Tweet others how they want to be Tweeted, and serve the public conversation authentically, respectfully and with consideration. As always, all accounts, including verified accounts, must follow the Twitter Rules. And as previously shared, verified accounts that repeatedly violate the Twitter Rules are subject to have the blue badge removed.
Who’s eligible?
To qualify for verification, people must fit the criteria of one of the six categories listed below.:
- Government
- Companies, brands and organizations
- News organizations and journalists
- Entertainment
- Sports and gaming
- Activists, organizers, and other influential individuals
In addition to the category-specific eligibility criteria outlined in the new verification policy, accounts must be complete, meaning they have a profile name, a profile image, a confirmed email address, and a phone number. Accounts must also be active within the last six months and have a record of adherence to the Twitter Rules.
How can you apply to get verified?
Over the next few weeks, everyone on Twitter will start to see the new verification application directly in the Account Settings tab. If the update can’t be seen immediately today, don’t worry! Twitter is gradually rolling it out to everyone to ensure that applications can be reviewed in a timely manner.
Here’s what the application flow will look like:
Once an application has been submitted, an emailed response will be shared within 1–4 weeks, either confirming verification or flagging that the application didn’t meet the verification criteria. If an application is approved, the blue badge will automatically be added to the profile. If an applicant thinks Twitter has made a mistake, reapply 30 days after receiving the decision.
What’s next
Twitter knows that the current verification policy may not represent all of the people who should be eligible to be verified on Twitter, so is planning to introduce more categories later this year, such as scientists, academics, and religious leaders. To stay up-to-date with verification, be sure to follow @Verified.
Twitter is also excited to continue expanding the ways people can express themselves on Twitter through their profile and launching new account types. Since its last update, Twitter has been doing ongoing research on automated accounts with plans to introduce this account type in the next few months, with memorialized accounts to follow. Twitter is also exploring improvements to the Twitter profile to allow people to better express themselves, such as through an About page, with more details to be shared soon!
