Meta is adding a free verification feature called Facebook Verified that lets users earn a white check mark by uploading a selfie video, according to Meta's announcement and reporting from Lifehacker.
The badge is intended to indicate a real person behind an account and will appear on profiles and across Marketplace, Dating, and Groups.
Facebook Verified is separate from Meta Verified, the paid subscription that provides a blue check mark. The feature is launching in select markets before a global rollout.
Meta says it will store the selfie video for up to 30 days after the one-time verification. Lifehacker raises privacy considerations around providing additional biometric data to Meta.
How Facebook Verified Works and Differs From Meta Verified
Facebook Verified is available to users aged 18 and older whose accounts are in good standing with Facebook's community standards.
Once a user has access, they record a short selfie video, which Facebook compares to existing profile photos on the account using facial recognition. If verification is approved, the white check mark is added to the profile.
Verification is not available for Pages or ProMode accounts. At launch, the badge will not appear on Feed posts, though Facebook says it plans to add that placement in the future. The badge will appear across Marketplace, Dating, and Groups from launch.
Facebook Verified is distinct from Meta Verified. Meta Verified is a paid subscription that provides a blue check mark on Facebook and Instagram, and confirms a user's identity based on a review of a government-issued ID and, in some cases, a selfie video.
Facebook Verified, by contrast, is free and relies on a selfie video compared against existing profile photos rather than a government ID review. The white check mark functions as a trust signal to other users rather than a paid identity confirmation.
Privacy Considerations Before You Verify
Meta states it will store the selfie video for up to 30 days after verification, which is a one-time process. Lifehacker notes it is not entirely clear how the video is handled during that retention window, and points out that Meta has previously used user data to train its AI systems.
Lifehacker advises users to weigh whether the verification badge is worth providing additional biometric data to Meta, and to read the privacy policy before agreeing to the process.
Facial recognition data is biometric data, and the selfie video is subject to Meta's retention and data-handling practices during the stated 30-day window.
Users considering Facebook Verified should assess the tradeoff before recording a selfie video:
- Confirm eligibility, since the feature requires an account in good standing, a user aged 18 or older, and availability in the user's market at launch.
- Read Meta's privacy policy covering the selfie video, focusing on the up to 30-day retention window and how the video may be used during that period.
- Review existing Meta AI data permissions on the account, since Meta has used user data for AI training in the past.
- Decide whether the white check mark's value as a trust signal outweighs providing biometric facial recognition data.
- Verify the badge placement matters for the intended use, since it appears in Marketplace, Dating, and Groups but not yet in Feed posts.
Google’s Selfie Verification Lands the Same Week
Lifehacker notes that Google launched its own video selfie verification feature this week, though it serves a different purpose.
Google's feature is designed to prove identity for account recovery when a user is locked out, and it grants access to the entire Google account. Facebook Verified, by contrast, is a trust signal displayed to other users rather than an account recovery mechanism.
Because Google's selfie verification can unlock full account access, Lifehacker notes it carries additional security considerations distinct from Facebook's profile badge.
Facebook Verified is rolling out in select markets initially, with a global rollout planned but not dated. Facebook has not confirmed which markets receive the feature first, when Feed post badges will be added, or when the feature will expand to additional account types.
Meta has not detailed what happens to the stored selfie video at the end of the 30-day retention period beyond stating that storage lasts up to 30 days.
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