In a bid to keep its community of one billion users safe, the photo-sharing app Instagram today announced three important steps. First, the company introduced a new feature to help you evaluate the authenticity of accounts with large followings on Instagram; secondly, a global verification form for notable public figures; and finally, an improved form of two-factor authentication that makes it easier and safer for you to securely log into Instagram.
In the coming weeks, you will be able to see more information about accounts on Instagram that reach large audiences so you can evaluate the authenticity of the account.
To learn more about an account, go to their Profile, tap the … menu and then select “About This Account.” There, you will see the date the account joined Instagram, the country where the account is located, accounts with shared followers, any username changes in the last year and any ads the account is currently running.
Instagram now also allows you to report an account that you believe violates Community Guidelines when these accounts are sharing information related to current events, political or social causes, for example.
“In September, people who have accounts that reach large audiences can review the information about their accounts that will soon be publicly available. After that, the “About This Account” tool will be available to the global community,” the company said in a blog post.
In addition to the “About This Account” feature, the app also announced a new way for accounts that reach large audiences and meet Instagram’s criteria to request verification through a form within the Instagram app. However, to be verified, an account must comply with Instagram’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
To access the verification request form, go to your profile, tap the menu icon, select “Settings” at the bottom and then choose “Request Verification.” You will need to provide your account username, your full name and a copy of your legal or business identification. This information will not be shared publicly.
It is important to keep in mind that submitting a request for verification does not guarantee that your account will be verified. Once your request has been reviewed, you will receive a notification confirming or declining your request in the notifications tab.
Instagram will never request payment for verification or reach out to ask you to confirm your verification, the company added.
Finally, you will soon be able to use third-party authenticator apps to log into your Instagram account. This form of two-factor authentication makes it easier and safer for you to securely log into Instagram.
To use a third-party app to log into your Instagram account, go to your profile, tap the menu icon, select “Settings” at the bottom and then choose “Two-Factor Authentication.” Select “Authentication App” as your preferred form of authentication.
“If you already have an authentication app installed, we will automatically find the app and send a login code to it. Go to the app, retrieve the code and enter it on Instagram, and two-factor authentication will turn on automatically. If you don’t have one installed yet, we will send you to the App Store or Google Play Store to download the authenticator app of your choice. Once you’ve installed it, return to Instagram to continue setting up your two-factor authentication,” said Mike Krieger, Co-Founder and CTO, Instagram.