Getting verified on Twitter has always been a selective — and arcane — process, but thanks to a recent update, users will be able to nominate themselves for verification using an .
Twitter verifies accounts it considers to be “of public interest,” which includes the accounts of public figures and organizations in music, TV, film, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports, business and other key interest areas, according to a press release. (Twitter started verifying accounts in 2009 and the among the first was , to help people find public health information; , and soon followed.)
While the criteria to become verified remain the same, anyone can now apply to join the corps of almost 187,000 verified accounts. The application process opened Tuesday and will be rolled out globally throughout the week.
In order to earn that little blue badge next to their handle, individuals will need to use their real name, have a confirmed phone number and e-mail address, a bio and a profile picture, a birthday (which doesn’t have to be available for public view), a website and a public Twitter profile. No date of birth (or incorporation) is required for businesses, but they will need a corporate e-mail address to prove themselves.
Users also will be required to explain why they think they should be verified. Twitter asks for an explanation of a person’s or a business’ mission in 500 characters or less — a generous limit, considering the 140-character limit for a tweet.
Users also have the option of including links to verify their legitimacy, but Twitter may ask users to provide “a legible copy of your government-issued ID” to prove they are who they say. Anyone who gets denied can submit a new request 30 days later.
To learn more about the process or to submit your own request, visit .
