Meta has announced the rollout of Facebook Verified, a free verification badge designed to help users identify real people on the platform through a selfie-based verification process. The rollout comes in the wake of the creation of fake profiles and deceptive content made easier by artificial intelligence.
In an announcement made on Friday, July 24, Meta said the feature will be rolled out in phases, beginning in select markets before expanding globally.
“We’re launching Facebook Verified, a free badge that verifies there’s a real person behind a profile using a simple selfie-based verification process,” stated Meta.
The company said Facebook Verified is aimed at strengthening trust across areas where users interact most with strangers, including Marketplace, Dating and Groups.
How Facebook Verified Works
To receive the badge, eligible users will be required to record a short video selfie. Facebook will compare the video with the user’s existing profile photos to confirm that the account belongs to a real person.
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Meta said the verification process is free and typically takes only a few minutes.
The feature is available to eligible Facebook users aged 18 and above who are in good standing under the platform’s Community Standards, particularly rules prohibiting fraud, scams, deceptive practices and other inauthentic behavior.
However, Facebook Verified is only available for personal Facebook profiles and not for Pages or Professional Mode accounts.
Where the Badge Will Appear
Once verified, the badge will appear across several Facebook features, including Marketplace, Dating, Groups and user profiles, with plans to extend it to Feed posts in future updates.
Meta said users only need to complete the verification process once, after which the badge will appear across eligible parts of the platform.
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Why Meta Is Launching Facebook Verified
The new feature comes as AI tools make it increasingly easy to generate fake profiles, messages and other content online.
“The Facebook Verified badge means a profile belongs to a real person, someone who completed selfie verification and meets our trust and safety standards,” Meta said.
However, the company emphasized that the badge is not an endorsement of a user and does not guarantee that a person is trustworthy.
Instead, the badge simply confirms that the account holder completed the selfie verification process and met Facebook’s eligibility requirements. All verified users will continue to be subject to Facebook’s Community Standards and Commerce Policies.
Meta added that as AI continues to transform online interactions, providing users with a clear way to identify real people has become increasingly important.
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