New Delhi, UPDATED: March 3, 2023 12:36 PM IST
From Abhik Sengupta: You may soon be able to purchase the coveted blue verification badge (commonly known as the blue tick) on Instagram, but until then, users will have to rely on the traditional method. Instagram explains that the verified badge can help others recognize and “find” socialites, celebrities, and brands to follow, but to be honest, the blue tick has become a status symbol over the years become. Likewise, a verified badge on the Instagram profile can potentially attract brands to collaborate, which helps the creator monetize content.
But you already know that, don’t you?
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Before I answer how to get verified on Instagram, a word of caution. Applying via the traditional method does not guarantee a blue tick and users may need to reapply in the future. You have 30 days to reapply if your current application is denied. Instagram advises that applying for a verified badge multiple times before receiving a decision will void your application.
You may also have heard that Instagram only verifies users with at least 10,000 followers. It’s not exact as Instagram’s official help page doesn’t mention anything about a minimum number of followers. To be clear, I was recently verified on Instagram and my follower count is below 400. In contrast, there are several notable accounts with over 10,000 (even 1 lakh) followers; However, these profiles do not have a blue tick.
Basic requirements for the blue badge on Instagram
Before applying for the Blue Verified badge, users must ensure some basic hygiene measures.
First, your account must be public, have a bio and profile picture, and be active.
Instagram advises that the profile must be “a well-known, frequently searched person, brand, or business.” It also reviews accounts featured in multiple news sources. This section may seem vague, but it means users should be well known in the community and other social media platforms. Videos on YouTube with credits in the description can help.
Image: Verified Instagram account with less than 400 followers.
If your name has been mentioned multiple times in news articles in the past six months, Instagram will honor that as well.
For brands, Instagram has limited information on the official help page. But according to Twitter’s requirements, which Instagram can also accommodate, brands need to ensure they have a legitimate website, a public page (e.g., a Wikipedia page), attribution in news articles, and a solid presence in Google Search have.
How to apply for a verified blue badge on Instagram
Once the basic requirements are met, the process is pretty simple. The process is only available in the Instagram app for Android and iOS and not in the web client.
To apply via the traditional method, open the Instagram app > Go to profile > Click the hamburger icon in the top right corner > Settings > Account > Request verification.
Users must fill out a form and provide an ID. You also need to select the relevant category – Blogger/Influencer, Sports, News/Media, Business/Brand/Organization. Submit relevant links to your work that highlight your name or organization.
According to Instagram, you’ll receive a response on your notifications tab after the team reviews your application.
If you’ve tried all of these but still can’t get verified, Instagram mother Meta is introducing a subscription called Meta Verified to consider once it’s available in India. Once you get the subscription, Instagram allows you to add the blue badge to your profile by providing a government-issued ID. Meta Verified is available in Australia and New Zealand for $11.99 (approx. Rs 990) per month on the web or $14.99 (approx. Rs 1,240) per month on iPhones.
