What is a verified Twitter account and how to get one

If you’ve spent any time on Twitter — or any social media, really — you’re probably familiar with the blue tick. These badges indicate verified accounts. According to I tweet, a verified account is any public interest account that has been verified by the company itself. Basically, it’s Twitter’s way of letting everyone know that you are who you say you are.

It’s not hard to see why you might want a verified Twitter account. Awareness, reducing misinformation, building trust with an audience – these are all key reasons why individuals, public figures and brands alike seek the blue tick. But while it’s clear that verification comes with some benefits, verification may not be a walk in the park.

Twitter’s verification process has historically been a hot mess. When was the blue sign introduced in 2009, there was no way to apply for verification—Twitter had to magically grant it. Then, in 2016, Twitter launched a public verification program. The company then shut down the apps in 2017 and didn’t reopen them until 2021.

During that four-year hiatus, Twitter thankfully came clean its verification policy, the application process and which accounts are eligible for verification. If you want a blue badge, here’s everything you need to know to apply.

Do you have an eligible account?

According to Twitter FAQ verification, eligible accounts “must be visible and active” and fall into one of six categories. These categories are:

• government
• Companies (including brands and non-profits)
• News organizations and journalists
• fun
• Sports and esports
• Activists, organizers and other “influential individuals”

Image: Twitter

If you don’t fall into these categories but still have an interest-bearing account, don’t worry too much. There’s still a lot of wiggle room when it comes to “other influencers” — and Twitter is aware of it. For example, when it rolled out its new verification policy, the company said it planned to add categories for academia, scientists and religious leaders.

Even if you clearly fall into one of these categories, terms like “visible” and “active” can seem subjective. For what it’s worth, Twitter defines a visible account as one that represents or is associated with a high-profile individual or entity. If you’ve been written about in the news, have a Wikipedia page, or have a follower/mention count in the top 0.05 percent in your region, Twitter will consider your account visible. However, these are not the only criteria that Twitter considers. Twitter says it uses a variety of “internal signals” and third-party sources to assess whether an account is in the public interest.

It’s a little easier to determine if Twitter considers your account “active.” Active accounts are those that:

• Have complete profiles (eg, a name and picture)
• They are public and have been registered within the last six months
• You have confirmed your contact information
• Are in good standing (eg, not blocked for violating Twitter’s policies)

But even if you meet all of these criteria, your account may still not be eligible. Ineligible accounts include:

• Parody accounts
• Accounts for pets or fictional characters
• Newsfeeds
• Unofficial fan accounts
• Accounts that promote hateful content

How to apply for verification

Before you apply, you will need to get your documents in order. Generally, you’ll need a way to verify your identity, an official email, and some additional evidence. The type of evidence you need will depend on the type of account you have. For example, a content creator will need to provide different information than a government official.

Here are links to the proof Twitter requires for each type of account, as well as other prerequisites:

Image: Twitter

Once you’ve got everything you need, the actual application process isn’t too difficult. (Though whether you’re successfully verified is another matter entirely.) To apply on the web or in the Twitter mobile app:

• Head to Settings and Privacy. You can access this by tapping on your profile picture in the mobile app or by clicking the three-dot button in the left menu on the website.
• Select your account and then Account information.
• On the website, you will be asked to enter your password. You probably won’t have to do this in the app.
• Select Verification request.
• You will be required to submit a photo of your government-issued ID, your official email address, and additional proof as noted above.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll have to wait for Twitter to review it. You should be notified by email within 14 days if you have been approved. If your application is unsuccessful, you will need to wait 30 days before you can apply again.

Tips to get verified successfully

Even if you meet all the criteria and have all the necessary evidence, you may still be rejected. It’s annoying, but here are some tips to stack the odds in your favor. Keep in mind that even if you follow these to the letter, the entire verification process is still pretty arbitrary.

Image: Twitter

Keep your profile boring

There are many ways to show off your personality on Twitter, such as quirky display names, silly profile pictures and joke handles. Unfortunately, these may count against you during the verification process. It can be cute to use your favorite video game character as your profile picture, but it can also be a big reason why you get rejected. In general, it’s a good idea to:

• Use a realistic image of yourself or your business logo
• Use your current name as your display name
• You might have a weird handle, but linking it to your actual name can help

It’s not as fun, but while your account is under review, it’s best to show that you’re a human being (or organization). You can always change it once you’re verified, though Twitter warns that you may lose your verification if you do. However, this seems to be applied randomly and there are many verified accounts that participate in the meme without any consequences.

Optimize your profile

You should clearly state what you do in your bio. For example, you’ll often see many journalists note their position, tag the publication they currently write for, and mention other sites where you can find their byline. Local government officials often list what they are running for, their current position and past experience. Of course, the more famous you are or the higher the number of followers, the more leeway you have. But if you only have a modest following, this can help.

Second, if you have an official website, you should link to it. This could be a portfolio if you’re a freelancer, an author site, a Linktree if you’re an influencer, or even a professional website. It also helps if the email associated with your account is the professional one.

You also want to make sure your bio doesn’t have any missing fields. Throw in a cover photo, add your birthday, pin a relevant tweet to your profile, and include your business location — anything that makes it clear you’re the real deal. While you’re at it, try to make sure the images you’re using aren’t grainy.

Make your account public and engage

A reminder: make sure your account is public. There are valid reasons why you might want a private account, but as we mentioned earlier, you should be public at the time of application.

Also, be a regular user. Twitter specifically says you must have entered within the last six months, but it helps if you’ve been tweeting consistently and engaging with other users for a sustained period before applying. Just don’t fall into the trap of simply retweeting other accounts – that won’t prove you’re bringing anything original to the platform. An easy way to increase engagement is by posting high-quality photos to accompany your tweets. You’ll make a stronger case for yourself if you show that you know how to use the platform and are using it for a specific purpose. There is no set way to engage with your community, so you can be creative here.

That said, don’t be a jerk. Harassing people, defrauding users or breaking Twitter’s rules it’s a good way to get rejected very quickly.

Don’t get too discouraged

Twitter has made great strides to make this process more transparent, but you may need to apply multiple times to be successfully verified. (Tyti really had to apply three times, despite having lots of proof of my work.) The good news is that there is no limit to the number of times you can apply.

Building an audience or a “visible and active” Twitter account takes time. If you are not verified the first time, experiment and try again.