Instagram will finally be allowing more people apply for verification starting today, it’s also rolling out general security improvements, and support for Third-Party Authenticator Apps.
Instagram accounts with large followings can now directly request for verification through a form, instead of waiting for Instagram to grant them the blue tick or by paying on the black market.
To apply, just go to your profile, head to Settings, and tap “request verification.” Then, you’ll need to give Instagram your account name, full name, and legal or business ID. After an unspecified time, Instagram will notify you whether your request has been approved or rejected.
The blue verified badge is an important way for you to know that the account you are interacting with is the authentic presence of a notable public figure, celebrity, global brand or entity. Today we are enabling a new way for accounts that reach large audiences and meet our criteria to request verification through a form within the Instagram app. Submitting a request for verification does not guarantee that your account will be verified. Once your request has been reviewed, you will receive a notification confirming or declining your request in the notifications tab. Instagram will never request payment for verification or reach out to ask you to confirm your verification, Instagram’s chief technology officer, Mike Krieger, said in a blog post.
In Terms Of Security Updates
The Facebook-owned company will now allow third-party authenticator apps like Google Authenticator and DUO Mobile work with Instagram. So you can modify your two-factor authentication in Settings to receive codes through third-party apps, instead of over text message, for a more secure alternative.
The New “About This Account” Feature
Instagram is adding an ‘About This Account’ feature for users who want to share more of themselves with their audience. Accounts with large followings using the new feature will allow them to display when they joined the platform, the country they’re located in, any username changes they’ve made in the past year, and any ads the account runs. In a blog post, Instagram writes, “Our community has told us that it’s important to them to have a deeper understanding of accounts that reach many people on Instagram.”
