Let’s be honest: we’ve all wondered how to get that little blue check mark next to our names on Instagram. Being a verified user on Instagram definitely has its perks, like getting more followers to check out all your awesome pics. And now, the new Instagram update allows you to apply for verification.
According to Hello Giggles, Instagram’s co-founder and CTO Mike Krieger announced in a blog post on Tuesday that “accounts that reach large audiences” can now request to be verified through the app. Prior to the announcement, it was relatively unknown how to secure a coveted verified badge, but this new, and much more transparent, process allows individuals and businesses to have more of a say in getting their accounts verified on Instagram.
So if want to apply for verification, here’s what you need to do, according to Tech Crunch:
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Go to your profile and select “Settings.” From there, you will find an option to “Request Verification.”
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Users should be prepared to prove who they are. According to Instagram’s announcement, those who request verification must provide their full name and their legal (or business) ID.
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Wait to see if Instagram approves your request for verification. Instagram’s announcement says that it will notify you if you are approved, or rejected. If you are rejected, you can reapply after 30 days.
Now, not everyone who applies will receive the verified badge. In order to be verified, Instagram will check your account for “authenticity, uniqueness, completeness and notability,” according to the Instagram Help Center. This just means that the accounts must be the only account representing a real person or business, must be complete and feature a bio, must be public, and must be considered a “well-known, highly searched for person, brand or entity.”
According to Wired, the new verification process is a part of Instagram’s latest effort to make the app more secure. The app is also rolling out a new “About This Account” feature, where users will be able to tap the three dots by the user’s name to see information like where the account is based, when it was created, and if the account’s name has ever changed in the past, Hello Giggles reports.
Instagram has also begun to support third-party authenticator apps to make your account harder to hack.
“Keeping people with bad intentions off our platform is incredibly important to me,” Krieger wrote in his post. “That means trying to make sure the people you follow and the accounts you interact with are who they say they are, and stopping bad actors before they cause harm.”
We’re definitely thankful that Instagram has taken steps to be more secure, and for making the verification process more transparent.