The little blue checkmark that appears on some Twitter accounts indicates that it is a verified account. Previously, the only accounts that received a checkmark were those of people who are high-profile. That used to include celebrities, athletes, politicians, and even some reporters. Twitter is now allowing all users to request a verified account.
Twitter has posted information that explains how you can ask them to verify your account. The post explains that the blue verified badge on Twitter “lets people know that an account of public interest is authentic.” Twitter also clarified who they typically give the blue checkmark to:
We approve account types maintained by users in music, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports, business, and other key interest areas.
Your request must have the following: a verified phone number, a confirmed email address, a bio, a profile photo, a header photo, a birthday, a website, and tweets set as public in Tweet privacy settings. You will also have to tell Twitter why they should verify an account. If the account represents a person, Twitter wants to “understand their impact in their field”. If the account is for a company, Twitter wants to know their mission.
Tina Bhatnagar, Twitter’s vice president of Users Services, made a statement about the application process for verified accounts. “We want to make it even easier for people to find creators and influencers on Twitter so it make sense for us to let people apply for verification.” She also said “We hope opening up this application process results in more people finding great, high-quality accounts to follow, and for these creators and influencers to connect with a broader audience.”
There is a form to fill out for those who want a little blue checkmark. Twitter will respond to your request via email. If your request is denied, you can try again in 30 days.