Twitter launching new verification process for getting blue tick
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Twitter is launching a new verification process next month, once again giving users the chance to get a blue tick.
The company will also create new kinds of accounts, including those specifically for automated accounts or bots, and for people who have died.
When the new rules come into effect, accounts that are not used or have not been completed will lose their blue tick. Those that are inactive because their owner has died will keep their verification and be moved to be a "memorialised" account.
Those at risk of losing the verified badge will receive an email and an in-app notification informing them to make the necessary changes before January 20 to avoid verification removal.
And those who severely or repeatedly violate Twitter's wider rules also risk being stripped of the blue tick.
"We will continue to evaluate such accounts on a case-by-case basis, and will make improvements in 2021 on the relationship between enforcement of our rules and verification," the social network said.
As part of the revamped criteria, people will no longer be required to include a profile bio or header image in a bid to make the process less restrictive.
"The process will include asking applicants to select a category for their verified status and confirming their identity via links and other supporting materials," Twitter said.
"We plan to use both automated and human review processes to ensure that we are reviewing applications thoughtfully and in a timely manner.
"We also plan to give people the option to share demographic information after completing the new verification application so that we can better measure and improve the equity of our verification process."
Additional reporting by Press Association
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments