Twitter is restarting its verification process from Friday, January 22, so more accounts will be able to get the blue tick mark from the social network. Twitter said it will be relaunching the self-serve application portal for the public to apply for verification in 2021. Here is everything you need to know about the changes and also how you can apply for verification.
Eligibility for verification
According to Twitter, for an account to be verified it must be notable and active. There are six types of ‘notable’ accounts on Twitter:
- Government
- Companies, brands and non-profit organisations
- News organisations and journalists
- Entertainment
- Sports and esports
- Activists, organisers, and other influential individuals
Twitter says it has received suggestions adding more categories including academics, scientists and religious leaders, and that it is planning to add dedicated categories for these some time later this year. But until then, if you fall in any of these categories, you may qualify under ‘Activists, organisers, and other influential individuals’.
Which accounts are at risk of losing verified status?
One may lose their badge if they change their account name, or if their account becomes inactive or incomplete, or if they are no longer in the position they initially were verified for – such as an elected government official who leaves office – and also if an account does not otherwise meet Twitter’s criteria for verification. Twitter says it may remove the blue verified badge and verified status of a Twitter account at any time and without notice in accordance with its Terms of Service. Additionally, the service may also remove the blue badge from accounts that are found to be in severe or repeated violation of the Twitter Rules. Removal of the verification badge based on repeated violations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and is not automatic. Severe and repeated violation happens when an account that impersonates or intentionally misleads people on Twitter by changing their display name or bio.
How can you apply for verification?
Twitter says that it will soon be relaunching the self-serve application portal for the public to apply for verification in 2021. The process will include asking applicants to select a category for their verified status and confirming their identity via links and other supporting materials.
How can you appeal if you lost your verification status?
Twitter has already started sending email and in-app notifications to accounts that are at risk of losing their verified badge to inform them of what changes are needed to be made to avoid automatic removal of their blue verified badge. As long as they make those changes before January 22, their account will not lose its badge.
What about accounts of people that are no longer living?
Twitter says it does not plan to automatically remove the verified badge from inactive accounts of people who are no longer living, and the service is working on building a way to memorialize these accounts in 2021.
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