Facebook Launches Free Verification Badge via Selfie Video, Nepal Yet to Get the Feature

Kathmandu: Facebook has introduced a new free verification feature designed to help users identify whether they are interacting with a real person rather than an AI-generated profile. The new feature, called the Facebook Verified Badge, allows eligible users to receive a verification checkmark by submitting a short selfie video.

The move comes as advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier to create fake profiles, realistic images, and automated conversations. Facebook says the new badge is intended to improve trust and authenticity across the platform, particularly when users interact with people they do not know.

Unlike the traditional blue verification badge, which is reserved for public figures or users who subscribe to Meta Verified, the new badge is designed specifically for everyday Facebook users.

To obtain the badge, eligible users must record a short selfie video. Facebook will compare the video with the profile’s existing photos to confirm that the account belongs to a real person.

According to the company, the verification process is completely free and typically takes only a few minutes. However, users must meet Facebook’s Trust and Safety standards, meaning their accounts must not have a history of fraud, scams, or other misleading activities.

The feature is currently available only to personal Facebook accounts belonging to users aged 18 or older who have a positive account history. It is not available for Facebook Pages or profiles using Professional Mode.

Once verified, the badge will appear on users’ profiles, Facebook Marketplace listings, Dating profiles, and Groups where confirming a person’s identity is important. Facebook says the badge will also be expanded to posts in the News Feed in a future update.

Users only need to complete the verification process once, after which the badge will automatically appear across supported areas of Facebook without any additional charges.

Facebook clarified that the badge confirms only that the account belongs to a real person who has completed the selfie verification process and meets the platform’s Trust and Safety requirements. It does not guarantee or endorse the user’s behavior, and verified accounts must continue to follow Facebook’s Community Standards and Commerce Policies.

The company said the feature is being rolled out gradually, starting in selected countries before expanding worldwide. It is not yet available in Nepal.