Twitter has confirmed that it is working on a profile badge for users who verify their phone numbers with the platform. Twitter already offers a profile badge to verified users, letting people know that an account of public interest is authentic. The blue 'Verified' badge with a white check mark is one of the most coveted features on Twitter and can be obtained by showing a valid official government-issued ID, such as Driver's License or Passport. Of course, there are many other additional criteria for receiving the blue check mark, meaning very few people manage to get one.
Multiple social media platforms and dating apps have introduced optional self-verification features that let other users know they're dealing with a real person at the other end. That includes dating apps Bumble and Tinder, both of which offer users the ability to voluntarily identify themselves using their photos. Indian social media app Koo also offers a similar option by letting users verify themselves using a government ID.
Twitter has confirmed that it is working on a self-verification feature that will allow users to get a new profile badge by verifying their phone number. In a communiqué to TechCrunch, the company said that the experiment would enable users to "add context to their accounts." The company didn't reveal any more information about the feature, but the new badge is expected to help denote that the user is a human and not a spam bot, thereby allowing the company to fight the growing instances of fake accounts on the platform. The new feature was first revealed by reverse software engineer Jane Manchun Wong in mid-August. According to Wong, it is also likely related to Twitter's Civic Integrity policy that says users may not use the platform to manipulate or interfere in elections and other civic processes.
Twitter Working On Verifying Users' Phone Numbers
Talking about the new experimental feature, Twitter told TechCrunch that it is one of the things the company is testing to help increase the credibility of Twitter accounts. The company, however, did not reveal how many people are part of the initial test program and when it will be launched publicly. Initially, at least, the feature is likely to be optional, although there's no telling if it will become compulsory in the future.
Spam bots have become a massive issue on Twitter and are one of the major sticking points in Elon Musk's proposed acquisition of the company. Musk suspects that the number of bots on Twitter is far higher than what the company's board officially admits, while Twitter claims that its data about fake accounts is accurate. So if the latest initiative helps reduce the number of bots, it will not only be a massive win for Twitter but all users everywhere.
Source: TechCrunch