Not a Movie Star? Not a Problem! Now Anyone Can Request Twitter Verification

Twitter has democratized the blue checkmark. Anyone can now apply to have that little signifier of authenticity next to their names on their Twitter profiles.

Up until now, such account verification used to be reserved for VIP’s, celebrities, and other public figures. As such, they were generally seen on the profiles of movie stars, musicians, and public intellectuals such as Neil Degrasse Tyson or brands such as Target. Even then, such individuals and entities did not usually apply for verification and sometimes received it without any foreknowledge.

Starting today, anyone can apply for verification by filling out an online form and providing verified email addresses, profile pictures and phone numbers, The Verge reports. Any additional information you can provide as to why you believe you need verification will also help with the application.

“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, according to Engadget. “”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.”

There are currently 187,000 verified accounts out of 320 million active monthly users, according to The Verge. While Twitter has not provided any precise motive for why it chose to open its process now as opposed to later, many outlets are noting that this move makes sense in light of increasing public awareness of and pressure against online harassment. Verifying users may allow people to interact only with others whose identities they are certain of.

Featured Photo Copyright: Anatolii Babii