Verification on online resources is the process of confirming the authenticity of a user or a company. It helps to distinguish real accounts from fake ones, increases the level of trust and provides additional opportunities. A green check mark, blue icon or other marks are not just status symbols, but they are an important tool for increasing credibility and security in the digital space.
What verification methods exist?
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Documentary verification: a user or a company needs to provide official documents to prove identity or the legitimacy of the business. This can be a passport, driver's license or company registration documents.
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Verification via social media: as for some platforms, such as Telegram, it is possible to verify an account by adding it to already verified pages on other social media platforms (e.g. Instagram or Facebook).
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Phone or email confirmation: many platforms use a code sent to a phone number or email to authenticate users.
Can the system be bypassed?
Many people try to bypass the verification process by using fake documents or different tools such as virtual numbers and temporary email addresses, which you can get at sms-activate.io.
While this may work on some platforms, most major services have strict security rules and may block such accounts. The direct verification with providing real information remains the safest and most reliable.
Verification on popular platforms
1. Instagram
Verification on Instagram is a blue check mark next to a user or company name. It means that such an account has been authenticated and belongs to a real famous person or brand. Getting a checkmark on Instagram requires the user to prove their popularity. Main steps:
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Account must be public and active.
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Complete filling the profile with info (photo, biography, contact information).
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The account must belong to a famous person or company with media or public mentions.
To verify your account, go to the settings, choose the “Account” section and click “Request Verification”. Enter your first name, last name, choose a category (music, fashion, blog, etc.) and attach a photo of your ID, then click “Submit”. The procedure is free, processing time is undefined. The decision will be sent in a notification. If the request is rejected, you can apply again after 30 days.
2. Facebook
Facebook offers verification for business pages and famous people's accounts. As it is on Instagram, a blue check mark on Facebook means that the account has been verified by the platform. However, there is also a gray icon here for less known companies. The verification process involves providing documents that prove the authenticity of a company or a person, as well as high activity on the platform.
Requirements for obtaining the verification mark:
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Authenticity: the account must represent a real person or company.
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Uniqueness: only one profile or page per person/company can be verified (except for different languages).
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Completeness: the account must contain information, photos and at least one publication.
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Significance: the account must represent a well-known person, brand or organization that is frequently mentioned in the news.
If the account does not meet the requirements, it can be authenticated through links on other platforms or with the Meta Verified subscription.
3. Twitter (X)
Twitter, which is now called X, also uses a blue check mark to indicate verified accounts. The verification process on Twitter involves proving an account's authenticity, popularity and activity. It's important to remember that Twitter will sometimes reject verification without explanation if a profile doesn't meet their internal standards.
Starting from April 1, 2023, the old authentication program is over and accounts that have not signed up for an X Premium subscription will lose the blue checkmark.
Criteria for receiving a blue checkmark:
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Active X Premium subscription.
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Complete information: name and profile photo.
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Activity: account has been active for the last 30 days.
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Security: phone number is verified.
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Credibility: no recent changes made to the profile and no spam.
Blue check mark can be removed for rule violations, manipulation, profile changes or cancellation of the subscription.
4. Telegram
Verification is available only for channels, bots or groups on Telegram (not available for personal accounts). Verified accounts of at least two other social networks (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) with links to your Telegram channel are required to get the checkmark. Verification is done via the @VerifyBot
If you don't have verified social networks, you can use a page on Wikipedia with a link to the channel or a link to the channel on the organization's official website.
Personal accounts can't be verified yet, and verification doesn't give you new features, it only emphasizes the channel's official operation. Changing your name or username after verification is forbidden without canceling it.
5. YouTube
To verify your YouTube account, go to youtube.com/verify and enter your phone number. YouTube will send a verification code via call or in a text message.
Once verified, you'll be able to upload videos longer than 15 minutes, add marks, launch streams, and submit Content ID appeals.
To access advanced features, you may need to confirm your identity via a document or video selfie. A phone number is used for spam protection, and no more than two channels per year can be verified with one number.
6. WhatsApp
A green checkmark in WhatsApp confirms that a business has been verified. It helps build customer trust. The checkmark allows you to display the brand name instead of a phone number and increases message conversion rates.
Make sure the business complies with the requirements. Businesses that sell alcohol, tobacco or medicines, microfinance services, dating services or casinos will not be verified. The publicity of the company is also important, as media mentions and popular social networks increase the chances to get verified.
Switch your account to WhatsApp Business API (WABA)
WABA is the official channel for businesses to send mass messages and integrate messenger with CRM systems.
Verify your account through Facebook Business Manager
Register a Facebook business account and fill in all the details including address, phone number and legal documents. Confirm the account with a phone number or email.
Enable two-factor authentication and submit a verification request
Provide the phone number of the company through WhatsApp Manager and add 5 links where your business is mentioned. The application will take up to 14 days to be processed.
Verification on popular platforms is an important step to increase trust and improve reputation for both personal accounts and companies. It allows you to protect your brand from fraudsters and increase engagement among subscribers. While the process can be complicated, the benefits of verified accounts make the effort worthwhile for those who want to increase efficiency of their online platforms.
