After a three-year-long pause, Twitter is relaunching its verification process. More notable accounts will soon get to wear the platform's symbolic blue checkmark, but there will be some changes to the policy.
Twitter Redefines What It Means to be Verified
Twitter announced that it's bringing back its verification program in a post on the Twitter Blog. It also noted that the verification policy will be undergoing a major update before the program's potential re-release in early 2021.
The blue badge on Twitter has long represented the authenticity of an account. Of course, this account would also have to have some sort of fame or far-reaching influence to qualify for the checkmark.
But now, Twitter is changing the way it awards verified badges. The platform has already composed a preliminary draft of what the verification qualifications might look like.
According to the write-up, the newly-defined verification badge will let "people know that an account of public interest is authentic." The platform also says that in order to get awarded a badge, "your account must be notable and active."
So far, Twitter has come up with six groups that can qualify for the verified checkmark. These include accounts that belong to government officials, companies or brands, news outlets, entertainers, athletes, and activists.
Twitter also set clear guidelines for accounts that can't get verified, and also outlined ways that a verification badge can get taken away.
These rules were a bit murky in 2017, when Twitter was criticized for verifying the account of a white supremacist rally organizer in Charlottesville, Virginia. This backlash prompted Twitter to temporarily freeze the verification process altogether.
Twitter now clearly states that any accounts "associated with coordinated harmful activity, or hateful content" can't get a blue badge, "even if their activity on Twitter doesn't violate Twitter Rules."
In the same vein, Twitter also outlined the ways a verified badge can get removed from a verified account. Not only will Twitter remove a verification badge if an account is inactive, but it will also take it away if the user continuously breaks Twitter's rules.
By revamping the verification process, Twitter aims to "provide more transparency and fairer standards for verification," which we'll hopefully see relaunched at the beginning of 2021.
The Blue Checkmark Becomes Harder to Get (And Keep)
The oh-so elusive verification badge has become even more slippery. Tons of accounts will likely be at risk of getting their badge ripped away, but it's probably for the best.