Meta Launches Free Facebook Verified Badge for Eligible Users
Meta has introduced a free Facebook Verified badge that confirms a real person is behind a Facebook profile. Unlike the paid verification subscription, this badge relies on a short video selfie instead of government-issued identification. As a result, the company aims to reduce the growing number of AI-generated fake accounts across its platform.
How Facebook Verified Works
Users must record a short video selfie during the verification process. The system then compares the video with existing profile photos to confirm a match. Moreover, the process is free, usually finishes within a few minutes, and does not require a subscription.
To qualify, users must be at least 18 years old and maintain good standing under Facebook’s Community Standards. In addition, they must follow policies against fraud, scams, deceptive practices, and other forms of inauthentic behavior.
Initially, the badge will appear on Marketplace, Dating, Groups, and personal profiles. Over time, Meta plans to expand it to Feed posts. However, the feature is not available for Pages or ProMode accounts.
Free Badge Differs From Paid Verification
Facebook Verified operates separately from the existing paid Meta Verified subscription. While the subscription offers benefits such as impersonation protection, priority customer support, and increased visibility, the free badge only confirms that a verified profile belongs to a real person.
Meta emphasized that the badge does not endorse a user or guarantee their trustworthiness. Instead, it simply confirms successful selfie verification and compliance with the platform’s trust and safety requirements.
Meta Expands Fight Against AI-Generated Fake Accounts
The new verification system arrives as Meta continues to tackle fake and AI-generated accounts. According to Statista, Facebook took action against 1.1 billion fake accounts during the fourth quarter of 2025. Furthermore, the company recently faced security concerns after attackers exploited its AI support chatbot to take control of Instagram accounts.
Meta has started rolling out Facebook Verified in phases, beginning with select markets. Although the company has not revealed the first countries receiving access, it plans to expand the feature globally in the coming months.
