Connect with us

Digital Culture

You Don’t Need a Large Following for Instagram Verification

Published

on

Instagram

Getting a verification badge on any social media platform has become the pinnacle of online success. When it comes to Instagram, verified accounts have a blue tick beside their username. Verification is typically done mainly for public figures, businesses, and celebrities to reduce impersonation cases on the platform. However, there have been some recent changes made to the overall Instagram verification process.

According to Adam Mosseri, the current Head of Instagram, “While follower count was never a requirement to get verified through the in-app form (which anyone can apply for), we did have certain systems in place that prioritized accounts with high followings to help get through the tens of thousands of requests received every day. We’ve since removed this from the automated part of the process.” In other words, this means that accounts with a lower following have an equal chance of getting verified compared to an account with a larger following.

So, what are the requirements to get the blue badge? Let’s dive in. 

Can anyone get verified?

Technically, this is true. Unfortunately, it is still incredibly hard if you are not a public figure or celebrity with some sort of significance. The reason for verifying accounts is to reduce the possibilities of impersonation. This creates no need for someone who is not a public entity to get the blue badge. 

Requirements for getting verified on Instagram

The five requirements for being verified on Instagram include; being authentic, notable, unique, public, and with a complete profile. Let’s briefly look at each of these.

  • Authentic: If the names you are using do not belong to you or if you are not a legitimate business, you will likely not be verified.
  • Notable: Your user account should be one of those that is searched for by many people on Instagram. This is where things get easier for public figures. 
  • Unique: Instagram can verify only one account per person or business. You can not have more than one account under the same business or individual being verified. 
  • Public: If you want your profile to be verified, it has to be a public one. Instagram doesn’t verify private accounts.  
  • Complete profile: Accounts that have missing information in their bio can not get verified on Instagram. So, make sure you have all the information filled out if you want that blue badge. 

Steps for getting verified on Instagram

  1. Log into your account that you want to verify, then go to your profile page.
  2. On your profile page, click the menu icon at the top right. You will be presented with several options. Select the gear settings icon at the bottom left of your screen. 
  3. Click on Account and select the request verification option.
  4. Confirm your identity. You will be required to input your full names or the names of your business. Make sure you use the registered names because you will have back this up with your National ID, driving license, or business registration details if the account is for a business. You will also be asked to input your commonly used name (your nickname or any official names). Finally, you will have to choose the category where your Instagram account falls.
  5. When you’re sure about all the information provided, you can submit your request for review. There is no clear timeline of how long this process takes, but it usually takes less than a week to hear back. In some cases, it can take much longer. 
  6. You may also find it useful to read some of Instagram’s new changes. Some of these could affect the verification process.  

Tips to increase your chances 

  • Be real. Before you put in your verification request, make sure your account is authentic and represents you as a person or your business. You also need to submit your identification documents containing the name you use on your Instagram account.
  • Make sure your account is public. 
  • Follow all the rules. Your account activities should follow Instagram’s community guidelines and terms of use. Violating any of the rules could affect your chances of getting the blue badge. 
  • Send a request for only one account.
  • Make sure no section of your profile is missing information.
  • Stay active. Try to have at least a few posts and some engagement before applying. 
  • Avoid including links to other social platforms in your profile information. 
  • Have a personal or business website.

In conclusion, the Instagram verification process is not easy. It will take some time to pass all the requirements, and the most challenging one is notability. Instagram typically looks for a presence that consists of online notability, namely press releases and article features. Anyone interested in obtaining verification must build up a brand. That way, your chances increase.

Marko Danial, commonly known as Pharaoic, is a young entrepreneur who has grown massive followings across social media platforms. Through his enjoyment of the digital world, he hopes to inspire the younger generation of influencers and entrepreneurs. Apart from Genfluencer, Marko is studying engineering in college and is actively building his tech company, Techineer.

Digital Culture

4 Gen Z Card Games to Play with Friends

Published

on

Card Game

Gaming has become a trendy pastime for millions of people around the world. However, despite new advancements in PC and console technology, card games are still popular. Statista reports that people from Gen Z showed the lowest levels of enjoyment when playing card games as opposed to millennials and baby boomers.

While this isn’t surprising, as many in the younger generation prefer to play online games like Among Us on their devices, the problem could lie in the fact that they just haven’t found something that appeals to them. With so many games being released today, it’s only a matter of time before they find one that they can enjoy with their friends. Here are some card games that will surely appeal to Gen Z’s taste and sense of humor:

Jungle Speed

An oldy but a goodie, Jungle Speed is a game that requires attention and, as its name suggests, speed. Here, players have to fight to be the first one to grab the totem if someone drops a card identical to theirs, or else they will have to take in all the ones in the discard pile. While there are also special cards, the rules remain relatively the same. If you are looking for something that will get your adrenaline pumping, then this is the game for you.

BONC!

This is a new game that aims to eliminate players one by one. With BONC!, people are given five lives and a deck of cards. When a player drops a card identical to the one put down by the person on their right, that person loses a life. The lower the number, the fewer identical pieces there are of it in the deck. The goal is to eliminate– or “BONC!”– people one by one until a single winner stands. With a few wildcards mixed in, Gen Z players will enjoy this lively game with friends and family.

Incohearent

Gen Z-ers have a catalog of popular memes and quotes in their heads, making Incohearent a funny way to test their knowledge. Here, players are flashed a card with what looks like nonsense words strung together. If said correctly, they form an actual phrase. For example, “hike and even” will become “I can’t even.” These pop culture references will surely appeal to Gen Z and make them laugh as they try to figure out what each card is trying to spell out.

Joking Hazard

This game is quite similar to Cards Against Humanity. Players are tasked to fill in the blanks of a comic strip, and whoever has the funniest adlib wins. Created by Cyanide and Happiness, this is a raunchier game best suited for older members of the generation. Bringing in dark and dirty humor, Joking Hazard will be a blast to play with friends on a chill night in.

Other honorable mentions not listed in this article are Coup, Uno, and What Do You Meme. Choosing the right one to play can vary on whether you want something intense and will get your heart racing (like Jungle Speed and BONC!) or something more geared towards lighthearted fun (like Incohearent and Joking Hazard). But there’s no doubt that there surely is a card game out there for every member of Gen Z to enjoy.

Continue Reading

Digital Culture

Why Facebook Plans On Changing Their Name

Published

on

Facebook
Facebook & Messenger (via Alexander Shatov)

Facebook is the parent company of Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook (the social site), and Oculus VR. Recently, there have been many rumors storming the internet suggesting that Facebook could change the name of its parent company. The announcement of this new name is expected at the company’s annual connect conference that will take place on 28th October 2021. 

With a new name, Facebook (the social site), Instagram, and the other platforms currently under Facebook (the company) will now be managed by another Umbrella company. We have already seen this happening with other companies, including Google’s rebrand to Alphabet Inc in 2015 and Snapchat to Snap Inc in 2016. 

We also saw Apple rebrand from Apple Computer to Apple Inc in 2007, when Steve Jobs wanted people to see Apple as a company that offers tech solutions and not just a computer company. 

Currently, the new name that we expect Facebook to reveal is known by just a handful of people internally. Even some of the senior executives at Facebook don’t know what to expect. However, most people hope the name to have something related to Horizons. 

Facebook has not yet made an official statement about this rumor, so the reason for this change is still unclear. However, the most apparent reason for this change is to make the company’s intention clear to everyone; Facebook wants to be more than just a social media company that we know today. They want to be looked at as a tech company with the potential to disrupt any industry using its tech innovations. 

The company already has over 10,000 employees building consumer hardware devices, including AR/VR glasses. Mark Zuckerberg, the current CEO of Facebook, believes VR and AR will soon become a big thing, and the only way of making this a reality is by creating the best VR/AR hardware to take advantage. 

In July 2021, Mark Zuckerberg said he wants Facebook to be looked at as a Metaverse company. Metaverse refers to some form of digital reality that integrates aspects of social media, digital reality, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and cryptocurrencies. Facebook intends to venture into all these technologies to allow users to do much more virtually beyond texting and sharing images.  

The rebrand could also take some pressure off Facebook due to the privacy-related scandals they’ve heard in the last decade. Facebook is no longer that “darling brand” that everyone loved during its early days. Thus, changing the name to something different could rejuvenate the brand popularity they enjoyed during their first 5 to 10 years in the tech business.

Continue Reading

Digital Culture

What Do Gen Z Need to Know About Online Casino Games?

Published

on

Gen Z
Poker (via Michał Parzuchowski)

It wasn’t so long ago that online gambling and casino games were illegal across the US. Gen Z is likely to be the first to live most of their adult lives in a world where they can legally bet real money on games like poker and on sporting events. The change is happening slowly but it is inevitable at this point.

Gen Z have largely been left to figure out the ins and outs of online gaming on their own, but what do they need to know before they get started?

Sports Betting is Huge.

Ever wonder who benefits from some of the strange promotional boxing events that keep popping up? Sure, the boxers get a decent paycheck, but the real money is in the betting that happens on the side. Many states have legalized sports betting in the past few years, opening up a whole new side of the gaming industry. Expect to see more and more sites pop up to help Gen Z explore this new frontier of gambling as it becomes readily available in more states.

Online Poker is Making a Comeback.

Nevada, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Michigan are the only states that have legalized online poker right now. But the matter is being discussed in several other states, and just a few years ago, Nevada and New Jersey were alone. Of course, we’re still not to the levels we were at pre-2011 when online poker played with real money was banned, but it seems that the industry is slowly recovering.

Depending on how the wind blows, this could be an excellent opportunity to get in early when it does arrive in your state. It may take several more years to reach the player levels we were at in the poker boom of the 00s, but that does seem to be the direction its headed now.

Other Games Won’t Be Far Behind.

Poker is the most popular game to play online, but it often leads to people trying a wider variety of games. Slots as well as other table games like blackjack are likely to follow on sites that offer sports betting or online poker. This creates the possibility for complete online casinos to pop up across the web and, with them, the chance for the industry to really find its footing.

What will online casinos look like in the future? That really depends on how the industry is willing to change. It is unlikely that physical venues will be replaced entirely but it wouldn’t be a stretch to expect sites to carry the brands of well known and established venues like Caesars’ Palace or The Bellagio into the digital world.

The Future Looks Different.

The future of online casinos will be full of innovation. With this much money to be made, brands will start to fight for customers, taking advantage of how new tech continues to drop in price. It wasn’t long ago when VR goggles were reserved for the most dedicated of fans, but now they’re becoming more and more commonplace. The same is happening with AR glasses. Expect online casinos to become fertile ground for cryptocurrency, which is thriving at the moment.

The casino industry is notoriously slow to change and adapt, but the events of the past few years have given them more cause to embrace emerging technologies.

Much of the online casino industry will be left up to Gen Z to explore on their own. It is important to approach these changes with caution, but they represent an exciting realm of online entertainment. We all just have to wait to see how quickly those changes come about.

Continue Reading

What's Trending?