Twitter verification is not forever.
The social network said Wednesday that it is reviewing the process by which it gives high-profile users the little blue check marks that denote verification, which equates to an endorsement from Twitter that users are who they say they are.
Twitter is working on developing a new authentication and verification program, the social media company announced in a tweet from its support account. Until that new process is put in place, it will no longer accept public submissions for verification.
It is also reviewing its current group of verified accounts and will remove the blue check mark on any accounts that do not fall within its new guidelines. Twitter has not widely removed verification up to this point, but did take away the blue check mark from Milo Yiannopoulos earlier this year.
"We should have addressed this earlier but did not prioritize the work as we should have," Twitter said in one of a series of tweets announcing the changes.
Twitter verification dates back to 2009. For many years, verification was considered a sort of status symbol handed down from the social network. The company did not have a clear policy for how to receive verification. Most verified users today are celebrities, musicians, athletes, journalists, media outlets and other known brands.
Last summer, Twitter announced that it would open verification up to the public. People who wanted to apply for verification could fill out a form and provide information including a valid email address, phone number and identification.
Twitter now says that the public verification process gave the blue check marks to "people who we in no way endorse." The company will now remove verification from anyone who misleads people in their display name or bio, promotes hate or violence, engages in harassment on the platform, engages in violent and dangerous behavior, shares disturbing imagery or expresses self-harm.
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
