How to get verified on all major social channels
Time to get serious about your brand.
- Getting the verification tick on social media platforms is an important sign of authenticity and signals genuine influencer or brand status.
- Once you achieve a certain follower size, you can apply for 'verified' status on most platforms.
- Here are the details for how to get verified for the 7 major social media platforms.
We live in the age of fake news and conspiracy theories. No one really knows who or what to trust anymore. When you find a social media channel that supposedly belongs to a celebrity or influencer, how do you know it is them? It could easily be another person pretending to be the celebrity to gain attention and make money from their social media channel.
All the major social media platforms have created a solution to this problem. They have a social media verification system, where celebrities and influencers can verify their identities. Once they have the verification mark on their profiles, it will prove they are who they claim to be. That makes it easier for entrepreneurs, companies, and customers to trust influencers and purchase their products and services.
Want to get verified on the most popular social media platforms? Let's discuss how to get verified on all the major social channels.
1) Instagram
Credit: prima91 via Adobe Stock
When you want to establish your reputation on Instagram, you need to do two things. First, you need to have a decent number of followers and views on your Instagram channel. Second, you need to request verification for your channel by verifying your identity with Instagram.
Newbies can save time if they buy Instagram followers or buy Instagram views to make their profile stronger. It is crucial to verify they are "real" followers and not fake followers. Otherwise, Instagram might assume you are a scammer and deny your channel verification request. It's a smart idea to research the merchant to ensure they sell authentic followers.
Instagram has only offered a verification program since the end of 2018. People who become verified will see a small blue checkmark next to their name on the profile page. Viewers will see the same checkmark whether they use a smartphone app or the Instagram website to look at your profile.
After you've accumulated a few thousand followers, the next step is to submit the verification request to Instagram. There is no guarantee whether you will get verified, but it should be smooth if you follow the procedures. All you need is your photo ID ready to go, such as your driver's license.
Log into your Instagram account. Visit your profile page and choose the hamburger icon, which should be located on the upper right-hand corner of your screen. Now tap the word "Settings" and select "Request Verification" from the drop-down menu. The format of the page might look a little different, depending on which platform you use.
Next, you will be brought to a page where you enter your identity information. Enter your first name and last name in the appropriate boxes. Now you must enter the ID number on your driver's license or photo ID. Instagram will verify your ID information with the records from your state. If they match the information you entered, it proves you are the person you claim in your profile.
As a result, the verification icon will appear on your profile page. Then you can attract more attention as an Instagram influencer or brand because people will trust and believe in your authenticity.
2) TikTok
Credit: bloomicon via Adobe Stock
TikTok is a Chinese video-sharing platform that has gained momentum in the west over the last year. It lets you create and share short-form videos of various genres, such as comedy, education, and dance. Teenagers and young adults use the platform the most, but older celebrities and influencers use it too. There is no reason why you cannot use it either, regardless of your age.
TikTok offers you two ways to verify your identity, both of which require an established and reputable TikTok account. You cannot merely make a new account and expect to receive verification status immediately. TikTok requires verified users to be celebrities or notable people. It takes time for a new user to achieve this kind of status.
If you are not a celebrity or a notable person, you still have a chance to pass the verification process if you post great content on your channel consistently. In this case, you would be deemed as a "popular user" rather than a "verified user."
The TikTok support team awards these titles to members who continue to post great content or achieve celebrity status. There are no verification forms to fill out and submit like there are on Instagram.
Just stay consistent with your content creation endeavors and promote your channel on other social media networks. If you gain a large enough following, the TikTok support team will notice it on their own.
3) Twitter
Credit: itchaznong via Adobe Stock
Twitter is a microblogging platform and one of the most popular social networking services. It is also one of the first social networks to create a verification program for its users. Once a Twitter account becomes verified, a small blue checkmark is placed alongside the name on the account page.
The Twitter verification process is not as complicated as you might think. You simply need to fill out all the account details and produce examples of web properties. Unfortunately, Twitter has stopped verifying new accounts since the beginning of 2018. They have been working on a new verification program for the last two years. The good news is the verification program should be available again in 2021.
Most people don't need to worry about Twitter verification unless they are a celebrity. An easier way to prove your identity to people is to post video blogs of yourself talking into the camera. Make sure you say the username of your Twitter account in the video, so people will know that the video wasn't stolen from elsewhere.
4) Facebook
Credit: Brad Pict via Adobe Stock
Facebook needs no introduction. It is the number one social media network in the world, with over one billion registered users. A big reason why Facebook is so popular is that it caters to businesses as well as individuals. But when you have so many people on one social media platform, it requires a top-notch verification process to guarantee the identities of its most prominent users.
Facebook offers two verification badges for its users. Individuals can earn blue badges, and businesses can earn gray badges. A badge means the identity of the respective individual or company has been verified. When people see the badge on your profile page, they will know you're the real person or business rather than a scammer.
Blue badges are for celebrities, brands, government officials, popular companies, journalists, media figures, athletes and entertainers. The average individual cannot receive a blue badge if they don't have much popularity. Facebook expects you to have a good reason to get verified; the service is not available to just anybody.
If you want to receive a blue badge, you need to create high-quality content and gain a lot of press recognition. Once you or your brand gain enough popularity, you can try applying for verification at Facebook. If the support team approves your application, you will have the small blue checkmark placed by your name.
Gray badges, on the other hand, are reserved exclusively for business pages. Your business doesn't necessarily need to be popular to receive a gray badge. You only need to verify the authenticity of your business. Facebook puts a gray checkmark next to your business name if the verification is successful.
It is much easier to receive a gray badge than a blue badge because you don't need popularity. The verification process for a gray badge usually takes about 48 hours, so it is not long at all. But you must operate a real registered business in your state to qualify for the badge. Otherwise, you'll have to work harder to earn a blue badge.
When you're ready to apply for verification, you need to check your profile page to ensure it is complete. All of the information must be filled out, such as your name, interests, location, etc. Upload a high-resolution cover photo and company logo as well. Once this is complete, fill out the Facebook verification form and submit it. Wait for a response from the Facebook support team.
5) YouTube
Credit: charnsitr via Adobe Stock
YouTube is the most popular video-sharing platform in the world. However, most of its content creators don't realize that YouTube has a verification program. It is reserved for public figures, companies, and professional artists and creators to verify their identities to the viewers on the platform.
For example, if a professional singer wants to upload their music videos on YouTube and monetize them without worrying about a copyright strike, they need to verify their identity with YouTube customer support. It also gives audiences a greater incentive to subscribe to your YouTube channel because they'll know you're the real person or company and not a scammer.
The minimum requirement for verification is to have 100,000 subscribers or more on your YouTube account. If you can achieve 100,000 subscribers, you can apply for verification on YouTube. It will also earn you a Silver Button YouTube Award; a physical award sent to you in the mail to showcase your achievement.
Verification is not essential on YouTube unless you've built up your notoriety or celebrity status. When you have over 100,000 subscribers, you have built a big enough reputation to where someone might want to steal your views and mimic your account. If you notice such things taking place on YouTube, you'll know it's time to verify your account.
6) Pinterest
Credit: prima91 via Adobe Stock
Pinterest is another popular image sharing social media service. Users pin various photographs and videos onto their virtual pinboards for other people to view and discover. Companies tend to personalize their pinboards with images that reflect their products, services, and brand.
Pinterest offers a fast and easy verification program. All you do is go to the Settings page of your Pinterest account and upload a company logo for the profile picture. You must also claim the company website too. If you've finished taking these simple steps, you should see a red checkmark next to your profile picture. The checkmark indicates that your Pinterest profile has been verified.
7) Snapchat
Credit: Eugenio Marongiu via Adobe Stock
Snapchat is like a combination of a social media network and a messaging app. It is the most popular among teenagers and young adults. The platform currently does not have a verification program for the average person to use. However, there is a unique verification program reserved for superstars and celebrities, such as DJ Khaled and Ryan Seacrest. Anyone without celebrity status will not get verified.
There is no verification page either. Snapchat sends out private emails to members who qualify for verification and offers them instructions on how to sign up for it. Snapchat is better for chatting with friends and family rather than as a platform for businesses—unless you can profit from your celebrity status.
'Space Hurricane' confirmed to have formed above Earth
This storm rained electrons, shifted energy from the sun's rays to the magnetosphere, and went unnoticed for a long time.
- An international team of scientists has confirmed the existence of a "space hurricane" seven years ago.
- The storm formed in the magnetosphere above the North magnetic pole.
- The storm posed to risk to life on Earth, though it might have interfered with some electronics.
What do you call that kind of storm when it forms over the Arctic ocean?
<iframe width="730" height="430" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8GqnzBJkWcw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><p> Many objects in space, like Earth, the Sun, most of the planets, and even some large moons, have magnetic fields. The area around these objects which is affected by these fields is known as the magnetosphere.</p><p>For us Earthlings, the magnetosphere is what protects us from the most intense cosmic radiation and keeps the solar wind from affecting our atmosphere. When charged particles interact with it, we see the aurora. Its fluctuations lead to changes in what is known as "space weather," which can impact electronics. </p><p>This "space hurricane," as the scientists are calling it, was formed by the interactions between Earth's magnetosphere and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplanetary_magnetic_field" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">interplanetary magnetic field,</a> the part of the sun's magnetosphere that goes out into the solar system. It took on the familiar shape of a cyclone as it followed magnetic fields. For example, the study's authors note that the numerous arms traced out the "footprints of the reconnected magnetic field lines." It rotated counter-clockwise with a speed of nearly 7,000 feet per second. The eye, of course, was still and <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/for-the-first-time-a-plasma-hurricane-has-been-detected-in-space" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">calm</a>.</p><p>The storm, which was invisible to the naked eye, rained electrons and shifted energy from space into the ionosphere. It seems as though such a thing can only form under calm situations when large amounts of energy are moving between the solar wind and the upper <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/releases/PR854520.aspx" target="_blank">atmosphere</a>. These conditions were modeled by the scientists using 3-D <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21459-y#Sec10" target="_blank">imaging</a>.<br><br>Co-author Larry Lyons of UCLA explained the process of putting the data together to form the models to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/space-hurricane-rained-electrons-observed-first-time-rcna328" target="_blank">NBC</a>:<br><br>"We had various instruments measuring various things at different times, so it wasn't like we took a big picture and could see it. The really fun thing about this type of work is that we had to piece together bits of information and put together the whole picture."<br><br>He further mentioned that these findings were completely unexpected and that nobody that even theorized a thing like this could exist. <br></p><p>While this storm wasn't a threat to any life on Earth, a storm like this could have noticeable effects on space weather. This study suggests that this could have several effects, including "increased satellite drag, disturbances in High Frequency (HF) radio communications, and increased errors in over-the-horizon radar location, satellite navigation, and communication systems."</p><p>The authors <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21459-y#Sec8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">speculate</a> that these "space hurricanes" could also exist in the magnetospheres of other planets.</p><p>Lead author Professor Qing-He Zhang of Shandong University discussed how these findings will influence our understanding of the magnetosphere and its changes with <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/uor-sho030221.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EurekaAlert</a>:</p><p>"This study suggests that there are still existing local intense geomagnetic disturbance and energy depositions which is comparable to that during super storms. This will update our understanding of the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling process under extremely quiet geomagnetic conditions."</p>Researchers unearth the “Lamborghini” of ancient chariots in Pompeii
The chariot survived ancient eruptions and modern-day looters to become a part of the world heritage site.
- Archeologists recently discovered a first-of-its-kind chariot in Pompeii.
- The ceremonial chariot is decorated with bronze and tin medallions, while the sides sport bronzesheets and red-and-black paintings.
- Given looting activity in the area, it's lucky the 2,000-year-old treasure wasn't lost to the world heritage site.
One dope Pompeian whip
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxOTUzNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjU3Nzk5MH0.M3HW5tPe17JuKMhLtKgbOlqK4sMbspqYskR_jz6t9sg/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C70%2C0%2C230&height=700" id="497f9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1bda1a9c489b85c8a56c189eb21706d1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1245" data-height="700" />Researchers carefully extract the chariot from the sedimentary rock encasing it.
(Photo: Archaeological Park of Pompeii)
<p>In a recent discovery, researchers unearthed a first-of-its-kind chariot at Civita Giuliana, an excavation site north of Pompeii's ancient walls. In Roman times, the site served as a getaway for Rome's elite and wealthy citizens, a serene countryside brimming with villas and Mediterranean farms. So, it's understandable why such an exquisite chariot was found here.</p><p>"I was astounded," Eric Poehler, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who specializes in Pompeii traffic, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/02/27/972118983/a-lamborghini-of-chariots-is-discovered-at-pompeii-archaeologists-are-wowed?ft=nprml&f=1001" target="_blank">told <em>NPR</em></a>. "Many of the vehicles I'd written about before ... are your standard station wagon or vehicle for taking the kids to soccer. This is a Lamborghini. This is an outright fancy, fancy car."</p><p>Located in a double-level portico, the chariot is a far cry from anything Ben-Hur would have been seen cruising around in. It sports four iron wheels and a high seat complete with arm- and backrest. The sides are adorned with engraved bronze and wooden panels painted with red-and-black figures. And the rear bumps with a register of bronze and tin medallion depicting Eros-inspired scenes of satyrs, nymphs, and cupids. In short, this chariot is slab.</p><p>"It is an extraordinary discovery for the advancement of our knowledge of the ancient world," Massimo Osanna, the director of the archaeological park, <a href="http://pompeiisites.org/en/comunicati/the-four-wheeled-processional-chariot-the-last-discovery-of-pompeii/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said in a statement</a>. "At Pompeii vehicles used for transport have been found in the past, […] but nothing like the Civita Giuliana chariot."</p><p>But unlike a Lamborghini—which serves only to show the owner has more money than sense—this chariot served a social and cultural role. Likely a <em>pilentum</em>, it would have been rolled out in times of ceremony, potentially during festivals, processions, or weddings.</p><p>While similar chariots have been uncovered in northern Greece, this is the first such chariot to be discovered in Italy. Its presence in Pompeii will further help historians understand the people who called the city home, as well as their relation to the Mediterranean world.</p><p>As Poehler added, "This is precisely the kind of find that one wants to find at Pompeii, the really well-articulated, very well-preserved moments in time. And it happens to be in this case an object that is relatively rare despite its ubiquity in the past."</p>It belongs in a museum (not the black market)
<p>Beyond its gilded appeal, the chariot is also special because it survived so we could learn from it. The area where the vehicle was found has been favored in recent years by looters, and illicit tunnels had been dug precariously close to the chariot's resting place. For this reason, the archeological park has teamed up with the Public Prosecutor's Office of Torre Annunziata to protect Pompeii's history and excavate its treasures before they become lost or stolen.</p><p>"The collaboration between the Public Prosecutor's Office of Torre Annunziata and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii has proved itself to be a formidable instrument, not only for bringing finds of exceptional historical and artistic value to light, but also for halting the criminal actions of individuals who for years have been the protagonists in a systematic looting of the priceless archaeological heritage preserved in the vast area of the Civita Giuliana villa, which is still largely buried and to which the recent exceptional findings bear witness," Nunzio Fragliasso, chief prosecutor of Torre Annunziata, said in his joint statement with Osanna.</p><p>Nor is everything that glitters historic gold. Even Pompeii's everyday ephemera can have an outsized impact on history. Pompeian citizens, for example, viewed street walls as a type of "<a href="https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/how-pompeii-graffiti-preserved-the-ordinary-voices-of-ancient-rome/" target="_blank">public advertisement space</a>" and so painted them thick with graffiti. As historians must often rely on the written works of the literate elite, this graffiti gives the ordinary Pompeians their voice back. <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/10/ancient-graffiti-shifts-date-pompeii-s-destruction-back-2-months" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">One such charcoal tag</a> even corrected the record of Vesuvius's eruption by two months, from August to October, contradicting the traditionally accepted date set by Pliny the Younger.</p><p>"Today, archaeologists try to understand ancient societies by studying the entire material record -- not just the beautiful or luxurious objects, but also the broken bits of cooking pottery, the animal bones thrown into the trash, the microscopic grains of pollen in the soil, and much more," Caitlín Barrett, associate professor at Cornell University, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/pompeii-new-excavations-looting/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told <em>CNN</em></a>.</p><p>This ephemera is also at risk. Looters looking for eye-catching treasure and artwork will often destroy everyday objects in their pursuit. And after centuries encased in protective sedimentary rock, the city has again been exposed to the rains, winds, and human blunders that erode. The goal now isn't just to excavate fantastic treasures, but to preserve the world heritage site and learn from it for as long as time (<a href="http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/what%E2%80%99s-most-recent-eruption-vesuvius-and-will-it-erupt-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">and maybe Vesuvius</a>) will allow.</p>New study suggests placebo might be as powerful as psychedelics
New study suggests the placebo effect can be as powerful as microdosing LSD.
- New research from Imperial College London investigated the psychological effects of microdosing LSD in 191 volunteers.
- While microdosers experienced beneficial mental health effects, the placebo group performed statistically similar to those who took LSD.
- Researchers believe the expectation of a trip could produce some of the same sensations as actually ingesting psychedelics.
Psychedelics: The scientific renaissance of mind-altering drugs
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="92360c805fe66c11de38a75b0967f417"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5T0LmbWROKY?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>For the study published in eLife, the team recruited 191 citizen cosmonauts to microdose either LSD or a placebo over the course of several weeks and note the psychological effects. Volunteers were already microdosing LSD, so there was no true control. Each volunteer was given instructions on creating their own low-dose gel capsules, some containing LSD, others not. Then they mixed the capsules in envelopes so they didn't know if they were taking the real thing or not.</p><p>The trial design was ingenious: each capsule featured a QR code that was scanned after the addition of ingredients but before they were placed in the envelope so that researchers knew what they were ingesting.</p><p>The problem: volunteers sourced their own LSD. Lack of quality control could have had a profound effect on the results. </p><p>The results: LSD microdosers reported feeling more mindful, satisfied with life, and better overall; they also noticed a reduction in feelings of paranoia. </p><p>The catch: the control group felt the same thing, with no statistical difference between the groups. </p><p>Lead author Balázs Szigeti comments on the findings: "This suggests that the improvements may not be due to the pharmacological action of the drug but can instead be explained by the placebo effect." </p>Credit: Alexander / Adobe Stock
<p>Psychedelics are notoriously difficult to control for given the intensity of the experience. Yet there is precedent for the above findings. A <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-020-05464-5" target="_blank">2019 study</a> found that 61 percent of volunteers that took a placebo instead of psilocybin felt some psychedelic effects, with a few volunteers experiencing full-on trips.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Several stated that they saw the paintings on the walls 'move' or 'reshape' themselves, others felt 'heavy. . . as if gravity [had] a stronger hold', and one had a 'come down' before another 'wave' hit her."</p><p>The Imperial team believes the expectation of a trip might have been enough to produce similar results. Senior author David Erritzoe is excited for future studies on the topic, believing they tapped into a new wave of citizen science that could push forward our knowledge of psychedelic substances.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Accounting for the placebo effect is important when assessing trends such as the use of cannabidiol oils, fad diets or supplements where social pressure or users' expectations can lead to a strong placebo response. Self-blinding citizen science initiatives could be used as an inexpensive, initial screening tool before launching expensive clinical studies."</p><p>As investments into the psychedelics market explode, with one company <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-03/thiel-backed-magic-mushroom-firm-atai-hits-2-billion-valuation" target="_blank">reaching a $2 billion valuation</a>, a recurring irony appears in the long arc of psychedelics and research: the power of our minds might be enough to feel greater life satisfaction and a deeper sense of mindfulness. If that's possible with a placebo, we have to question why the rush to create more pharmacology is necessary. </p><p>This is, mind you, a separate conversation over the role of psychedelics and rituals for group bonding. The function of group cohesion around consciousness-altering substances will continue to play an important role in many communities. </p><p>Of course, we should continue to explore the efficacy of psychedelics on anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, PTSD, and addiction. <a href="https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/antidepressant-effects" target="_self">Pharmacological dependence</a> is a stain on the psychiatry industry. Whether or not psychedelics can be prescribed for daily use remains to be seen, but we know a moneyed interest is expecting a return on investment—the above company, ATAI Life Sciences, raised $157 million in its Series D round. </p><p>When it comes to wellbeing, some things money just can't buy. How we navigate the tricky terrain of mainstreaming psychedelics remains to be seen. </p><p>--</p><p><em>Stay in touch with Derek on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/derekberes" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DerekBeresdotcom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a>. His most recent book is</em> "<em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KRVMP2M?pf_rd_r=MDJW43337675SZ0X00FH&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hero's Dose: The Case For Psychedelics in Ritual and Therapy</a>."</em></p>


SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
