The blue checkmark on social media networks are representing verified accounts, in which the sign shows an account to be legitimate. Accounts might be subjected to parody and fake accounts trying to trick users into believing theirs is the real one.
The blue checkmark is essentially a symbol which marks the authenticity of an account.
While this status was difficult to get since the respective social media networks are the ones where the decision is at, the microblogging Twitter is making things easier for "ordinary" users to make their accounts verified.
The company is opening the chance to get that blue checkmark to everyone starting on July 19th, 2016.
Following its announcement, Twitter has launched a support page regarding verification. Here users can request a verified account by filling out a form with verified phone number and email address, a profile photo and other additional information regarding why the verification status is required.
Previously, the blue checkmark is only limited to specific people such as public figures, brands, people in the the politics, media, sports, businesses, and other high-profile entities.
Twitter said that "an account may be verified if it is determined to be of public interest."
"We want to make it even easier for people to find creators and influencers on Twitter so it makes sense for us to let people apply for verification," said Tina Bhatnagar, Twitter's VP of User Services. "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."
The verification badge is designed to verify the authenticity of an account. Where the symbol was previously reserved for high-profile figures and those that could be at risk of impersonation, the status of that blue checkmark doesn't fundamentally alter Twitter's experience, or providing more features aside to that verification-only symbol that allows users to filter replies to show only verified accounts.
Previously, Twitter had allowed users to apply for verification. But due to the number of non-worthy accounts sending requests for verification, the company has pulled the feature not long after it was launched.
Since then, Twitter has manually verified all accounts, a process done behind the scenes, and without the ability for users to request it.
And by having an application form where users can again request for their own verified accounts, Twitter is expecting more influencers to be active on its platform.
Twitter was the first platform to introduce account verification, starting in 2009. Currently, only 0.06 percent of Twitter's 310 million monthly users are verified, according to a Twitter representative. That means only 187,000 accounts are verified.
The @CDCgov was one of the first Twitter accounts to be verified. Among the other first accounts to be verified include @NASAArmstrong, @KimKardashian, @Oprah, @MilwaukeePolice, @SF311, and @TonyHawk.
Update: Because of abuse, Twitter stops allowing verification submissions.