Instagram is testing a new verification process to add more transparency and fight scammers offering fake profile verification services.
Being verified is usually limited to “notable” and “authentic” accounts. That means celebrities, media outlets, and brands. That said, many users are ready to pay hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars for the coveted blue check mark. Well, I hate to break it to you, but no-one, I insist, no-one can nor should be able to help you get verified in exchange for payment.
To add more transparency, but also to protect users from scammers, Instagram is testing an in-app form that allows users to request a verified profile:
“We hope this new form will not only give people the opportunity to apply but also help them better understand the verification process and safeguard them from believing false promises of verification from third parties.”
The form is already available in the iOS app for select users, which will soon be extended to Android. The process requires users to submit their username, full (real) names and photo identification.
Instagram said it will review accounts based on “authenticity, uniqueness, completeness and notability,” and accounts must comply with its terms of service and community guidelines. Of course, Instagram will never request payment for verification.
[box]Read next: How To Get Verified On Facebook[/box]