Twitter now lets anyone request a verified account




Twitter is opening the blue checkmark to everyone. Starting today, the company will let users request a verified account on its website by filling out a form with a verified phone number and email address, a profile photo, and additional information regarding why verification is required or helpful. In defining who will get approved, Twitter says "an account may be verified if it is determined to be of public interest." Prior to today, Twitter tended only to verify public figures, brands, and people in media, politics, sports, business, and other high-profile sectors.

"We want to make it even easier for people to find creators and influencers on Twitter so it makes sense for us to let people apply for verification," said Tina Bhatnagar, Twitter's vice president of user services, in a statement. "We hope opening up this application process results in more people finding great, high-quality accounts to follow, and for these creators and influencers to connect with a broader audience."


TWITTER FAVORS REAL NAMES AND ACCURATE PROFILE PHOTOS WHEN DECIDING WHO GETS VERIFIED


It's unclear why Twitter is opening the process to the public. The company says it has about 187,000 verified accounts, but around 320 million monthly active users. The disparity there, alongside increased pressure to provide anti-harassment tools, means more and more users may only be interacting with those who share their verification status. For instance, Twitter lets verified users filter their notifications to only show replies, mentions, or likes by other verified users. This is by design, as Twitter's harassment problem as grown so bad that certain subsets of high-profile users on the platform have chosen not to subject themselves to the random attacks of strangers.


For those worried about rampant harassers gaining the blue checkmark, the system in place does not appear to undermine anti-harassment measures. Twitter's support page says it favors people who use their real name or recognizable stage name, as well as a profile or header photo that accurately represents the person. You can also provide URLs to support the request, and Twitter reserves the right to demand an uploaded scan of a government-issued ID.


TWITTER MAY STILL ONLY VERIFY PUBLIC FIGURES


It's still unclear if Twitter plans to verify everyday people who fill out the form, or stick with its previous practice of only granting it to public figures and industry users, like journalists. If a critical mass of users do opt for verification — and ultimately use their real name and photos — it could spell the end of the egg avatar, or at the very least could drastically reduce the visibility of anonymous users.





Although anonymity has been a hallmark feature of Twitter since its launch, the vitriolic nature of the user base has forced the company to make hard choices about its commitment to the philosophy. Still, many critics of Twitter's policies says it still has not done enough. So now this change would seem to be a question presented to the majority of users: shape up, or be left behind.

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