Meta brings back free Facebook verification

Facebook is bringing back free account verification, although the familiar blue badge no longer carries the same meaning it once did.

Meta has introduced a new Facebook Verified program that allows users to verify their identity at no cost through a selfie video. Unlike the original verification system, which was reserved for celebrities, public figures, journalists, and brands, the new badge is meant to confirm that an account belongs to a real person. The company said the move is intended to make it easier for users to identify authentic accounts as impersonation and AI-generated profiles become more common.

The verification process requires users to submit a short video selfie, which Facebook compares against existing profile photos to confirm identity. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old, have an account in good standing, and meet Meta’s integrity requirements before receiving the badge.

The new system is separate from Meta Verified, the company’s paid subscription service introduced in 2023. Subscribers to Meta Verified continue to receive benefits such as proactive impersonation monitoring, direct customer support, and additional account features. The free Facebook Verified badge only confirms that an account has completed Meta’s identity verification process.

Instead of treating the blue badge as a symbol of status, the company plans to surface it in places where users are more likely to interact with strangers, including Facebook Marketplace, Dating, Groups, and profile pages. The whole purpose is to make it clear as day whether the person you are interacting with has verified their identity.

The platform’s original verification program focused on proving that a high-profile account was authentic. Today, Meta says the larger challenge is helping users distinguish real people from fake accounts, impersonators, and AI-generated identities. The company is positioning verification less as a marker of notability and more as a trust signal for everyday interactions.

The feature is currently limited to personal Facebook profiles. Business Pages and Professional Mode accounts are not included in the initial rollout, although Meta said availability will expand over time.

Facebook Verified will launch first in select markets before expanding globally.