Meta Introduces Free Facebook Verified Badge for Real Users

Meta has announced a free Facebook Verified badge for regular users as part of its efforts to distinguish genuine accounts from AI-generated profiles, scammers, and fake content flooding the platform.

How to Get the Verified Badge

Unlike the paid Meta Verified subscription, this new verification feature is completely free. To obtain the badge, users must take a facial recognition selfie, which will be matched with their existing Facebook profile photo. The verification process takes only a few minutes.

To qualify, users must be at least 18 years old, and their accounts must comply with Facebook's Community Standards.

Where the Badge Will Appear

Once a user's identity is verified, the badge will appear next to their name across various Facebook services, including Marketplace, Facebook Dating, and other areas of the platform.

Meta emphasized that the badge only confirms that the account belongs to a real person. It does not indicate celebrity status, public recognition, or serve as an official endorsement of an account's credibility.

Why Meta Is Introducing the Feature

The company says the initiative comes in response to the rapid rise of AI-generated fake profiles, online scams, and automated fraudulent messages. By offering free identity verification, Meta aims to help users identify authentic accounts more easily and reduce online impersonation and fraud.

Additional Updates

Alongside the new verification system, Facebook has begun testing Immersive Video, a new full-screen video experience that launches when users open the app. Users who prefer the traditional interface will be able to disable the feature and return to the standard News Feed.

Meta also clarified that the new verification program will not apply to business pages or Professional Mode accounts. After launching in selected countries earlier this week, the company plans to expand the feature to regular Facebook users worldwide.

//DBTech/BMT/OR//