If you have been on the social media scene for a while, you may have seen the blue checkmark on some social media accounts, even Twitter. Before November 9, 2022, the blue checkmark on Twitter indicated that the account was active, authentic, and notable — this was the Twitter Legacy verification program. This verification meant that the account was of public interest and had been authenticated to be credible. In simple terms, the badge shows that you are who you say you are.

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As of November 9, 2022, Twitter has revamped the process of acquiring the blue checkmark. The verification will now come with a monthly subscription fee of $7.99 under the Twitter Blue program. After this date, the checkmark will have two different meanings:

  • The account was verified using the previous criteria (active, authentic, and notable).The account is under the Twitter Blue subscription service.

The blue badge comes with its privileges and benefits. If you are a brand, business, or public figure, the badge means recognition and a chance to build trust with your customers, audience, and fans. Verification is also there to curtail misinformation, especially when fighting against fake news, bots, and trolls.

In the past, one had to go through a complicated process to get verified on Twitter. Even with that, success was not guaranteed. However, with the new policy in place, it will be smooth sailing, as I will show you in the following steps. 

Twitter Blue Verification Option

Twitter Blue subscriptions cost $7.99 per month for all regions. Those within the supported regions can access the Twitter Blue application on their Twitter for iOS application.

Twitter will not review the accounts applying for verification based on the Active, Notable, and Authentic parameters of the previous method. 

Steps to Get Verified on Twitter Blue

Follow these steps to get verified on Twitter Blue.

Step 1: Update Your Twitter for iOS App to the Latest Version

Go to App Store and update your Twitter App to the latest version. The blue button will say “update” instead of “open” if you need to download and install a new version.

Step 2: Go to Your Profile Menu 

Select your profile picture and it will lead you to the profile menu.

Step 3: Select Twitter Blue

There is a new icon for Twitter Blue on the updated version of Twitter for iOS. Select it from the list.

Step 4: Select the Subscribe Button and Follow the Purchase Instructions

The monthly subscription price is indicated. Select the subscribe button and it will lead you through a few purchase instructions.

Congratulations, you have received the Twitter Blue checkmark.

Premium Features Accessible to Users Verified on Twitter Blue

Twitter Verification Eligibility Criteria

After November 9, 2022, only accounts subscribed to Twitter Blue will access the verification checkmark. Twitter will no longer accept new verification applications based on the previous Legacy eligibility criteria.  All accounts that subscribe to Twitter Blue will receive the blue checkmark for the duration of their subscription.

Additional Twitter Blue Verification Conditions 

Verified accounts under the Twitter Blue program will not get to change their username or display name after getting the verification mark. 

New Twitter accounts will only get access to the Twitter Blue subscription after 90 days. 

Loss of the Blue Checkmark

Twitter Blue subscribers may lose the blue checkmark when they violate Twitter rules. The same also applies to the Legacy verified Twitter accounts.

One can also choose to unsubscribe from Twitter Blue. You can access this feature in your Twitter Blue settings. Once you unsubscribe, the blue checkmark will remain on the account until the term you paid for ends. This excludes the case when the account is suspended and loses the verification status. 

Old Twitter Legacy Verification Program

Twitter Legacy verification was the existing method before the Twitter Blue program. Twitter tested Accounts applying for verification under this program to see if they met the authentic, notable, and active criteria. Currently, applications using this program have been halted. However, accounts that received the verification with this program will retain the blue checkmark.

Conditions for Verification Under the Twitter Legacy Verification Program 

Your Twitter Account Should be Authentic

In this case, one is required to confirm their identity for the verification process. Identification verification is by the following three methods:

  • Official Website: Applicants would provide a link to their official website or organization. ID Verification: The applicant would provide a photo of a government-issued valid identification document. Official Email Address: The applicant would provide an official email address with a domain matching the chosen category.

Your Twitter Account Should be Notable

Notability refers to the association of the account with a prominent individual or brand. In this section, Twitter would have you answer the question, “Tell us who you are.” The notable sections covered under the Twitter policy included:

  • The Government: This category covers government office accounts, individuals in the government, and candidates for office. News Organizations and Journalists: It includes news organizations and institutions, individuals employed in verified news organizations, and freelance journalists.Companies, Organizations, and Brands: This category covers prominent companies, nonprofits, and brands, as well as their leaders and executives. Entertainment: This category recognizes production and entertainment companies, artists, directors, performers, and other individuals associated with the entertainment scene. Sports and Gaming: The category has professional sports teams, leagues and organizations, sports professionals, and popular individuals associated with sports. Activists and Organizers: These are individuals who have gained the public eye but do not lie within the other professional categories mentioned above. They should be involved in bringing awareness, sharing information, leading people to a cause, and other community-enriching functions. Content creators and Influencers: This includes popular creators who have created original content for different platforms for at least six months.

Your Twitter Account Should be Active

The Twitter account should be active as defined by Twitter parameters. An active Twitter account should have a profile name and a profile image. The account needs to be active during the application stage, and the owner should have logged into the account at least in the last six months. The account should also have a confirmed email address or phone number for security reasons. An active account has also not violated Twitter rules in the past 12 months, excluding successful appeals.