You Can Now Verify Your Facebook Account With a Video Selfie

Emily Long Emily Long Freelance Writer ExperienceEmily Long is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City. After graduating from Duke University, she spent several years reporting on the federal workforce for Government Executive, a publication of Atlantic Media Company, in Washington, D.C. She has nearly a decade of experience as a freelancer covering tech (including issues related to security, privacy, and streaming) as well as personal finance and travel. In addition to Lifehacker, her work has been featured on Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, and ZDNET. Emily has also worked as a travel guide around the U.S. and as a content editor. She has a masters in social work and is a licensed therapist in Utah. Read Full Bio July 24, 2026 Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google Credit: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images Key Takeaways Facebook is adding a free verification feature that allows users to upload a selfie video and earn a white check mark. This is a separate feature from Meta Verified, which is a paid subscription for obtaining a blue check mark in Facebook and Instagram. You'll record a short selfie video, which Facebook will compare to other profile photos, but you should consider whether you want to provide more data to Meta. Table of Contents If you're on Facebook, you may soon see a new type of verification badge on user profiles meant to indicate that there is a real, live person behind them. The platform is adding a free verification feature that allows users to upload a selfie video and earn a white check mark, which will appear on their profile and across Marketplace, Dating, and Groups. (At launch, badges won't appear in Feed posts, but Facebook says that feature will be added in the future.)Note that this is different from Meta Verified, a paid subscription that provides the blue check mark to accounts on Facebook and Instagram. This verification indicates that Meta has confirmed the user's identity based on a review of their government-issued ID and, in some cases, a selfie video. How Facebook Verified worksFacebook Verified is available to users age 18 and older whose accounts are in good standing with the platform's community standards, though the feature is launching in select markets initially before being rolled out globally. Once you have access, you'll need to record a short video selfie, which Facebook will compare to existing profile photos on your account using facial recognition. If your verification is approved, the white check mark will be added to your profile. Verification is not available for Pages or ProMode accounts. Consider your privacy firstFacebook says it will store your selfie video for "up to 30 days" after verification, which is a one-time process. It's not entirely clear what happens with that video in the meantime, and it's worth noting that Meta has relied on user data to train its AI. Meta AI (and Meta more broadly) is a terrible offender when it comes to privacy and security, so you should consider whether the tradeoff of a verification mark is worth handing over more of your data and read the privacy policy before you agree. What do you think so far? Google also launched a video selfie verification feature this week, though its purpose is to prove your identity should you get locked out of your account. Unlike Facebook Verified, which is meant to be a trust signal to other users, Google's selfie verification allows access to your entire Google account, bringing with it some additional security considerations. Lifehacker has been a go-to source of tech help and life advice since 2005. Our mission is to offer reliable tech help and credible, practical, science-based life advice to help you live better. Our Mission Our Team Newsletter © 2001-2026 Ziff Davis, LLC., A ZIFF DAVIS COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Lifehacker is a federally registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of Lifehacker. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.