How to get verified on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook - tips to get blue tick

A blue tick is now widely recognised to represent a ‘verified’ profile. [Photo: Courtesy]

While a blue tick once met nothing, the symbol is now widely recognised to represent a ‘verified’ profile.

Several social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, use verification on select profiles, including public figures, celebrities and brands.

Each site has specific criteria you need to meet to get your profile verified, and understanding this can be tricky.

To help, we’ve put together a handy guide about how to get verified on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook - although, there’s no guarantee your page will get that blue tick!

Instagram

To request a verified badge on Instagram, firstly, you need to have a Business Account, indicating that you’re a public figure, celebrity or brand.

You also need to make sure your profile is public and complete. This means you need to have a bio, profile photo and at least one post.

Instagram explained: “We look at a number of factors when evaluating Instagram accounts to determine if they're in the public interest and meet our verification criteria.”

Once you’ve set up a Business Profile, you can request verification using the following steps:

1. Make sure you’re logged in to the account you’re requesting a verified badge for.

2. Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of the screen

3. Tap Settings, then Account, then Request Verification

4. Enter your full name, and choose which Category you fit into (News/Media, Sports, Government/Politics, Music, Fashion, Entertainment, Blogger/Influence, Business/Brand/Organisation, or Other)

5. Attach a photo of your ID. This includes a driver’s license, passport or national ID card, or official business documents

6. Click Send

Instagram added: “Once we review your request, you'll receive a notification letting you know if your account has been verified or not.”

If your request is denied, you can submit a new request after 30 days.

Twitter

On Twitter, an account may be verified if Twitter decides it’s of public interest.

Twitter explained: “Typically this includes accounts maintained by users in music, acting, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports, business, and other key interest areas.

Sadly, Twitter’s verification process is currently on hold, and the platform isn’t accepting any new requests.

It remains unclear when the process will be back up and running

Facebook

Finally, Facebook will add a blue tick to Pages or profiles that it deems of ‘public interest.’

Facebook explained: “We apply the blue verification badge to eligible brands, media organizations and public figures. Eligibility for the blue verification badge is based on a variety of factors, such as account completeness, policy compliance and public interest.”

To request a verification badge, your Page or profile must also have the following:

- A cover photo

- A profile photo

- A name that follows Facebook’s guidelines

- Content posted to the account

 ‘Follow’ enabled

If you’ve ticked all those off your list, you can apply for verification by filing out this form.

Like Instagram, Facebook also requires you to attach a photo of your ID.