The role social networks play in the spread of fake news has never been under more scrutiny than now. As the world struggles to contain the spread of COVID-19, ensuring accurate facts from official sources reach as many people as possible is crucial to keeping populations safe. Facebook has been under pressure to crack down on content violations and the spread of misinformation since the 2016 presidential campaign and they have slowly been changing their policies to help people understand more about the pages they interact with. Late last year, the grey verification was removed in an effort to weed out fake pages and whole networks of fraudulent pages spreading propaganda. This move has increased interest in the elusive blue verification badge and what the requirements are to get one.
How To Get The Facebook Blue Tick
It’s not particularly hard to apply to get a blue verification badge on Facebook, but there are strict criteria including:- Authentic (no fake names or businesses)
- Unique (one account per person or business – no general interest pages will be verified)
- Complete (make sure all sections of your profile are filled in, you have a profile photo and there is at least one post)
- A well-known or often searched for person (celebrities, actors and musicians for example)
- Recognised brands or entities (examples include fashion and beauty brands, supermarkets, schools and government organisations)
Where Do I Apply For A Verified Badge?
Once you’ve logged into your personal Facebook page or Business page, you can access the application form through the Help Centre.You’ll need to have some official documentation ready to upload as well. Examples include:- Utility bill (business account)
- ATO documentation (business account)
- Passport (personal account)
- Driver’s licence (personal account)
- Identification card (personal account)
